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The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of PA, Inc.
Preserving Pennsylvania's Historic Covered Bridges
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Charity Organization
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Bridge Facts

Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Pennsylvania is home to more historic covered bridges than any other state in the nation. Below are facts about their construction, history, preservation, and the traditions that grew up around them.

Why Were Covered Bridges Built?

  • Covered bridges were roofed and sided to protect the wooden structural timbers from weathering. An uncovered wooden bridge might last 10 years; a covered one could last 100 years or more.
  • The covering was not built for the comfort of travelers or their horses — it was purely a practical measure to extend the life of the bridge.
  • The siding on covered bridges often had openings or gaps to allow light in and to prevent the wind from acting as a sail and blowing the bridge off its foundations.

Construction & Truss Types

  • Most Pennsylvania covered bridges use the Burr arch truss, a design patented by Theodore Burr in 1817. It combines a multiple kingpost truss with a long wooden arch, giving the bridge both rigidity and flexibility.
  • The Burr Arch truss is named after Theodore Burr (1771–1822), a Connecticut-born bridge builder who designed and constructed many early American bridges. The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania takes its name from him.
  • Other truss types found in existing Pennsylvania bridges include the Town Lattice, Queenpost, Kingpost, and Howe trusses.
  • Bridge builders are often called 'bridgewrights' — craftsmen who specialized in timber bridge construction much as shipwrights specialized in wooden ships.
  • Most covered bridge timbers were hewn or sawn from local white pine, hemlock, or oak. The wood was often cut in winter and allowed to season before use.

Dimensions & Records

  • Pennsylvania's longest covered bridge is Pomeroy-Academia in Juniata County, stretching 278 feet.
  • Most Pennsylvania covered bridges range from 50 to 150 feet in length, sized to span the local streams and creeks they cross.
  • The roadway width inside most covered bridges is only 12 to 15 feet — wide enough for a single wagon or early automobile, but not two vehicles side by side.

Preservation & Threats

  • The greatest threats to covered bridges today are floods, arson, and vehicle strikes. Many bridges have been lost to one of these causes.
  • Pennsylvania once had over 1,500 covered bridges. Today fewer than 210 authentic examples survive.
  • Many surviving covered bridges have been bypassed by modern roads and preserved as pedestrian or historical landmarks.
  • Covered bridge preservation often involves replacing deteriorated timbers while retaining as much original material as possible — a balance between authenticity and structural safety.

Folklore & Traditions

  • Covered bridges were sometimes called 'kissing bridges' because the darkness inside gave courting couples a rare moment of privacy.
  • It was once considered good luck to hold your breath while crossing a covered bridge.
  • Many covered bridges were used as community bulletin boards — notices, advertisements, and political handbills were tacked to the interior walls.

Historical Timeline

October 18, 1800: The cornerstone was laid for the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge (America's first covered bridge), in Philadelphia, PA.
January 1, 1805: America's first covered bridge, the Schuylkill Permanent Bridge, opened to traffic in Philadelphia, PA.
January 20, 1806: Theodore Burr's 1008 ft. bridge across the Delaware River opened, connecting Morrisville, PA to Trenton, NJ; it was America's 2nd covered bridge and the 1st between states.
February 14, 1806: Theodore Burr was awarded his first patent for an arch truss.
April 12, 1812: The cornerstone was laid for the Colossus Bridge in Philadelphia, PA.
October 16, 1816: The Camelback Bridge, in Harrisburg, collected its first toll.
March 3, 1818: Burr's record-breaking arch (360 feet, 4 inches) covered bridge at McCall's Ferry was destroyed by an ice freshet.
November 21, 1822: Theodore Burr died in Middletown, PA at age 51. His burial place is unknown.
February 5, 1832: The first Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge, the world's longest at 5690 feet, was destroyed by an ice freshet.
June 28, 1863: The 2nd Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge was burned by Union militia to stop advancing Confederate troops during the Civil War.
November 20, 1875: The Market Street Bridge, in Philadelphia, was destroyed by fire.
September 30, 1896: The 3rd (and last) of the Columbia-Wrightsville covered bridges was destroyed by a tornado.
April 5, 1959: The first organizational meeting was held in Harrisburg, PA, for what was to become the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania.
May 3, 1959: The first official meeting of the TBCBSP was held at the Pennsylvania State Museum, in Harrisburg.
September 1, 1959: Vera Wagner, 1st president of the TBCBSP, published the Society's first newsletter.
November 16, 1959: The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania became incorporated as a non-profit organization.
July 26, 1961: Governor David L. Lawrence signed the first proclamation for "See Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges Week," which was observed September 30–October 8, 1961.
August 27, 1961: The Eastern Phoebe, a bird known to build its nest in covered bridges, was adopted as the official bird of the TBCBSP.
May 9, 1969: Governor Raymond P. Shafer signed H.B. #33 into law, establishing the annual observance of "See Pennsylvania's Covered Bridge Week".
June 21, 1972: Remnants of Tropical Storm “Agnes” caused massive flooding and damage throughout Pennsylvania, including the destruction of 24 covered bridges in seven PA counties.