This Single Span Burr Arch Truss design was built by Joseph A. Britton in 1883 to span Leatherwood…read moreCreek. It is located about six miles west of Rockville, just off US36 on Country Road 4. It is normally visited in tandem with the nearby Phillips covered bridge. This was the third of Britton's twelve covered bridges in Parke County, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is #23 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

Southeast of Montezuma, Indiana is a relatively old covered bridge dating back to 1883…read more Fortunately, it underwent some restoration in 1997 to keep it still in service today. The Sim Smith Bridge is about 102 feet in length with a span of 81 feet crossing the Leatherwood Creek. It is a Burr Arch-truss structure with the standard Parke County colors of red and white with black lettering. The good news is the road is paved. The bad news is there isn't a pull off spot, so be careful! The bridge is located on the "brown" route of the Parke County tour trails. To find this bridge, head east from Montezuma along US 36 about 2.5 miles to CR 510W. Head south about a third of a mile and the bridge should be within view on W 40N. You can also find it from Rockville by traveling west 5.5 miles on US 36 the same county road. Review #3216

I'm on a quest to visit all the covered bridges in Indiana. Covered bridges connect us with the…read morepast. The Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge was built by the famous Indiana bridge builder, J. A. Britton in 1899. The Burr Arch bridge originally crossed Leatherwood Creek at Leatherwood Station, Indiana. The bridge was moved to Billie Creek Village, where it stands today and is open to traffic (sometimes). I've walked across several of Britton's bridges now, and they seem familiar to me. Britton built approximately 40 bridges in Indiana during his lifetime. This 72' bridge is in exceptional condition. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, but I prefer to visit off season to avoid the crowds. There is free parking at Billie Creek Village. There are three covered bridges at the site, each with its own story. Interesting side fact, leatherwood is a tree with a pliable bark that was used by indigenous people and early settlers to make rope and other useful materials. I assume that there are leatherwood trees along Leatherwood Creek.

This is one of three covered bridges inside Billie Creek Village. J.A. Britton put up this Single…read moreSpan Burr Arch Truss design in 1899 to span Leatherwood Creek at the Leatherwood train station. The bridge was moved to its current location over Williams Creek in 1981. Also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this is #25 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

Originally crossing Roaring Creek, the Beeson Covered Bridge was moved to this location in December…read more1979. It is a single span Burr Arch covered bridge that was built in 1906 by the Frankfurt Construction Company, the only surviving bridge in Parke County that was built by a professional construction company. It is 55 feet long and has a clearance of 12 feet 6 inches. Only open to pedestrians at this time. And it's still in very good condition considering that it has survived TWO arsons. Gosh, people suck! It is one of the set pieces that is part of the Billie Creek Village. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Park County Covered Bridge Festival.

The Beeson Covered Bridge was moved to Billie Creek Village in 1980. A plaque says that the Burr…read moreArch bridge was built in 1906 by Frankfort Construction Company. The bridge originally crossed Roaring Creek in Marshal Indiana. The bridge is only opened to pedestrian traffic. I walked the 120 year old bridge several times. Some of the side panels seem to be in disrepair. Festive string lights hang inside the bridge. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, but I like visiting these bridge at other times to avoid the crowds. There is nearby free parking.

Billie Creek Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge that is original to the Billie Creek…read moreVillage. The Burr Arch bridge was built by J. J. Daniels in 1895 over Williams Creek, just east of Rockville. The single lane bridge was open to traffic during our visit and we drove across. I love to hear the echo and feel the vibration when I drive across these old covered bridges. We crossed "at a walk" of course. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. I like to visit the bridges off season when there are no crowds around.

One of the covered bridges in Billie Creek Village, it is the only one that is still open to…read morevehicles. And even better, the clearance and capacity were sufficient to fit my Sprinter van. It is a single lane. A Burr Arch Truss that was built by prolific builder Joseph J. Daniels, this one was completed in 1895. It was originally part of the roadway that would become US 36 nearby. The Howard and Hollandsburg Bridges nearby did get saved. Despite being open to traffic, it is still in excellent condition and well worth a visit. I believe it's a "star" in the annual Covered Bridge Festival. [Review 1295 of 2024 - 172 in Indiana - 22318 overall]

Still in Parke County but outside Rockville, this is another Joseph A. Britton covered bridge that…read morehe completed in 1913. It is a single-span Burr Arch structure. This is originally the site of two other bridges that had been washed away before this one, the State Sanatorium Covered Bridge, was moved to here. It is open to traffic But I opted to take the bypass with the Sprinter van. The road to the east is hard packed dirt and not a great run. Total length of 170 feed with a clearance of 12.5 feet, it would have been fine for my heavy van but I thought, let's not today. [Review 1297 of 2024 - 174 in Indiana - 22320 overall]

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss originally crossed Little Raccoon Creek on State Sanatorium…read moreproperty, about a mile downstream from its current location. It was moved in 2008 to carry County Road 100N across Little Raccoon Creek. #1 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the bridge was built by J.A. Britton in 1913-- one of the twelve covered bridges that he constructed in the county.

We had a bit of trouble finding Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge, but eventually we did. The bridge…read morehas been bypassed by a newer bridge that stands parallel. We found parking at one end of the bridge and walked through tall grass to the single Burr Arch truss span bridge. The 72' bridge was built by the prolific bridge builder, J. J. Daniels, in 1900. The single lane bridge served until 1987, but still stands proud at 126 years old. The inside is spattered with a bit of graffiti that has been covered with white paint. Outside, the boards show some rotting around the bottom. I was surprised at the good condition of the floor boards. She needs a little love, perhaps the Covered Bridge Festival will pick up donations for the repairs.

Bypassed in 1987, this Single Span Burr Arch Truss was built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1900 to carry…read moreGreencastle Road (County Road 720) over Big Rocky Creek. Access is easy and fully paved; the bridge sits about two miles east of US59 outside Mansfield. One of nine covered bridges that Daniels put up in Parke County, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978; it is #6 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

In 1910, Jefferson P. Van Fossen received the contract to erect this Double Span Burr Arch Truss…read morebridge. It carries Virostko Road across Big Raccoon Creek, replacing an earlier effort (1865) of Joseph J. Daniels that was destroyed by arson. At 263 feet in length, it is one of the longest of the surviving covered bridges in Parke County (#18 on the Covered Bridge Map). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. As Harold Rau details in his A Guide to the Covered Bridges of Parke County, Indiana (2016), this is the one bridge with an unclear history. "Witnesses from the construction site claim the on-site foreman was Joseph J. Daniels, 84 years old at the time. But, an old photograph of the nearly finished bridge shows J.P. Van Fossen as contractor and J. Brooks as builder. The name of J.J. Daniels does not appear in the photo. The on-site witnesses didn't remember Mr. Brooks, and later photographs show portal lettering with J.J. Daniels as builder. However, the current portal inscription only reads 'Van Fossen' (p. 56)."

Just a short distance off the Red Route for touring Parke County Covered Bridges is the Roseville…read moreCovered Bridge near Coxville, IN. The Burr arch-truss style bridge was built in 1910 and restored in 1977, so it is in pretty good shape. The bridge is still in service though traffic is told to greatly reduce speeds to a walking pace to cross the span. The red and white bridge with black lettering has a total length of a whopping 282 feet (2nd longest in the County) with the single longest span of around 119 feet which crosses the Big Raccoon Creek. The rest of the length hovers over ground that can frequently flood. There is also a marker on the west side of the bridge telling about the history of Rossville. To find this bridge, take US 41 west of Rockville to Coxville Road (7 miles). Head south for 4.25 miles to CR 325 W in Coxville. The bridge is only about 400 feet ahead on this gravel road. Note that this bridge is only 0.8 miles away from Harry Evans Covered Bridge which is also on CR 325W to the north. If you are coming from Rosedale, take Main Street/Coxville Road north 2.25 miles to Coxville and CR 325W. Head east. Review #3175

You would easily be forgiven for thinking that there's not much to review in Marshall, Indiana -…read morepopulation 274. For the most part, you'd also likely be correct other than the fact that technically Turkey Run State Park bears a Marshall address. But, as you're entering what is called "downtown" Marshall, you're likely going to drive right under a historic landmark - the Marshall Arch. Built in 1921 as a way to honor the town's World War I vets, the Marshall Arch spans SR 236. It's a wooden arch with a span of 51 feet supported by concrete piers. At its highest, it has a clearance of 17-feet and 7 inches. I drove under the arch during my "getting lost" journey through Marshall on my way to Turkey Run. Truthfully, I still don't know how I found my way other than a lucky turn. The arch itself is beautiful - it reminds me of what a college town might have, however, there's no college to be found here. There's also, as is true for most historical landmarks, a plaque commemorating the arch. The arch was the first work of Indiana architect Carroll O. Beeson. It was commissioned by town leaders. Folks are quick to say it's not a "memorial." It's intended to improve the appearance of the town's downtown area, though the dedication did honor the town's WW I vets. The arch was placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1985. It remains in remarkably good shape for a 100+ year-old landmark.