The Medora Covered Bridge was the longest covered bridge in the United states with the entire original historic truss still in place with some repairs but no structural changes.[1][2] Measuring the clear span (abutment face to abutment face) of 431 feet 10 inches (131.62 m),[3] the Medora Covered Bridge is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States.[4][5] The roof length of 461 feet (141 m)[6] and the siding at the floor length of 459 feet (140 m)[7] are also the longest historic covered bridge measurements in the U.S.
The Medora Covered Bridge was built in 1875 by J. J. Daniels at a cost of $18,142.00 and took nine months to build. The bridge was covered to protect the truss from the elements. Before the bridge was built people crossed the river by ferry.[8]
It has been reported but not verified that at one time there was wooden railing down the middle of the bridge separating the two-way traffic. As the vehicles became wider, the railing was removed and it was then one-way.
Until 1935 the bridge carried U.S. Route 50 when it (US 50) was moved four miles to the north.[9]
In 1968 the bridge was scheduled for demolition when the new modern parallel bridge was to be opened, but was saved by an order from then Governor Whitcomb in 1971.[10]
A modern parallel bridge was opened in 1973. The covered bridge was closed to vehicular traffic at that time.[11]
In 2007, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In June 2011 a rehabilitation of the bridge was completed. The original truss remained in place with a few repairs. The cedar shake shingles, siding (seven of the original boards, identified by square nail holes, were placed on the north side of the far west end), pylons, and some of the rafters were replaced. Except for the shingles, most of these items were original but badly deteriorated. Much of the flooring was replaced but was not original.[12]
^"Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-04-01. Note: This includes J. A. Barker Engineering; Arthur, Fleeta (May 2006). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Medora Covered Bridge" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-04-01. and accompanying photographs.
^Boley, Edwin J. First Documented History of Jackson County, Indiana, 1816–1976. Vol. 2. p. 337.
^Hill, Herbert R., ed. (September 1971). Outdoor Indiana Magazine. p. 23. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Seymour Daily Tribune. October 13, 1973. p. 1. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Indiana Department Of Transportation, Bridge Plans, Project No. 0101359, Medora Covered Bridge
External linksEdit
Media related to Medora Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons
Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IN-45, "Medora Bridge, Spanning East Fork of White River at State Route 235, Medora, Jackson County, IN", 6 measured drawings, supplemental material
Site devoted to the Medora Bridge and its restoration
October 17, 2023
medora, covered, bridge, longest, covered, bridge, united, states, with, entire, original, historic, truss, still, place, with, some, repairs, structural, changes, measuring, clear, span, abutment, face, abutment, face, feet, inches, longest, historic, covered. The Medora Covered Bridge was the longest covered bridge in the United states with the entire original historic truss still in place with some repairs but no structural changes 1 2 Measuring the clear span abutment face to abutment face of 431 feet 10 inches 131 62 m 3 the Medora Covered Bridge is the longest historic covered bridge in the United States 4 5 The roof length of 461 feet 141 m 6 and the siding at the floor length of 459 feet 140 m 7 are also the longest historic covered bridge measurements in the U S Medora Covered BridgeU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of IndianaShow map of the United StatesLocationMedora IndianaCoordinates38 49 07 N 86 08 50 W 38 81861 N 86 14722 W 38 81861 86 14722ArchitectJoseph J DanielsArchitectural styleBurr Arch TrussNRHP reference No 07000977Added to NRHPSeptember 19 2007 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLocation EditThe Medora Covered Bridge is located in Carr Township in Jackson County Indiana and crosses the East Fork of the White River running parallel to State Road 235 It is approximately 1 mile 1 6 km east of Medora and 9 miles 14 km southwest of Brownstown History EditThe Medora Covered Bridge was built in 1875 by J J Daniels at a cost of 18 142 00 and took nine months to build The bridge was covered to protect the truss from the elements Before the bridge was built people crossed the river by ferry 8 It has been reported but not verified that at one time there was wooden railing down the middle of the bridge separating the two way traffic As the vehicles became wider the railing was removed and it was then one way Until 1935 the bridge carried U S Route 50 when it US 50 was moved four miles to the north 9 In 1968 the bridge was scheduled for demolition when the new modern parallel bridge was to be opened but was saved by an order from then Governor Whitcomb in 1971 10 A modern parallel bridge was opened in 1973 The covered bridge was closed to vehicular traffic at that time 11 In 2007 the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places In June 2011 a rehabilitation of the bridge was completed The original truss remained in place with a few repairs The cedar shake shingles siding seven of the original boards identified by square nail holes were placed on the north side of the far west end pylons and some of the rafters were replaced Except for the shingles most of these items were original but badly deteriorated Much of the flooring was replaced but was not original 12 See also EditList of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Indiana List of covered bridges in Indiana nbsp Engineering portal nbsp Indiana portal nbsp Transport portalReferences Edit Indiana Department Of Transportation Bridge Plans Project No 0101359 Medora Covered Bridge Marston Christopher H Vitanza Thomas A Guidelines For Rehabilitating Covered Bridges pp 128 139 Specifications for Medora Covered Bridge by J J Daniels Tippin Morris Barker James Summer 2014 Indiana Crossings Which Bridge Is the Longest Historic Covered Bridge Indiana Covered Bridge Society p 3 Miller Terry E Winter 2015 Is There a Longest Historical Covered Bridge in the United States Covered Bridge Topics Spicer Zach July 24 2019 Buildings at fair pique peoples interest in history Seymour Tribune William Cotterman Architect Indianapolis IN Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database SHAARD Searchable database Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Retrieved 2016 04 01 Note This includes J A Barker Engineering Arthur Fleeta May 2006 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Medora Covered Bridge PDF Retrieved 2016 04 01 and accompanying photographs Boley Edwin J First Documented History of Jackson County Indiana 1816 1976 Vol 2 p 337 Hill Herbert R ed September 1971 Outdoor Indiana Magazine p 23 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Missing or empty title help Seymour Daily Tribune October 13 1973 p 1 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a Missing or empty title help Indiana Department Of Transportation Bridge Plans Project No 0101359 Medora Covered BridgeExternal links Edit nbsp Media related to Medora Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons Historic American Engineering Record HAER No IN 45 Medora Bridge Spanning East Fork of White River at State Route 235 Medora Jackson County IN 6 measured drawings supplemental material Site devoted to the Medora Bridge and its restoration Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medora Covered Bridge amp oldid 1159527954, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
