While this covered bridge is no longer a part of a road, you can still cross it on foot.

Indiana's Long History with Covered Bridges

Indiana is home to dozens of covered bridges, and one county in Indiana has so many still standing that it has even been dubbed the Covered Bridge Capital of the World.  Covered bridges are a rarity these days because they were mostly built out of wood, and most of the covered bridges in America were built between 1820 and 1900, making them well over 100 years old and some as old as 200 years old.

Because these bridges were made of wood, many have been lost to time, but there are still nearly 1,000 covered bridges remaining across the United States.  So why were covered bridges even built?  According to  Ancestral Findings, these bridges were built to last because the cover on the bridge was added to extend the lifespan.

The covering on the bridge is designed to actually protect the bridge and extend its lifespan. This is because uncovered wooden bridges usually only last about twenty years before needing to be repaired or replaced, while covered wooden bridges can last as long as a century before any work needs to be done on them.

You can read more about the fascinating history of covered bridges, here.  One covered bridge located in Southern Indiana is still able to be crossed on foot, and it even turns 150 years old this year.

A Bright Red Southern Indiana Gem

Located in Griffin, Indiana is a bright red gem, the Old Red Bridge.  It was built in 1875, making it 150 years old in 2025. According to the Indiana Historical Society, this bridge is a Smith Truss Structure built by W.T. Washer.

According to Historic Structures, the Smith Truss style bridge was created by Robert W. Smith, with the goal of reducing the amount of timber used in the structure.

Robert W. Smith (1834-1898) was the son of an Ohio cabinet maker. On July 16th, 1867, he received a patent for a design with compression members at 45 degrees and tension members at 65 degrees. His goal was to reduce the amount of timber in the structure. He moved to Toledo, Ohio that year and organized the R.W. Smith & Company partnership. Smith received a second bridge patent in 1869 for roofing and lateral-bracing systems.

You can still visit the Old Red Bridge today and walk across it, and goodness does it look pretty against all of the snow! Thanks for sharing your photos with me, Kim!