Covered Bridges of Lancaster County


Pennsylvania is often recognized as the birthplace of covered bridge building. From the 1820s to 1900 there were about 1500 covered bridges built in Pennsylvania. Because many state residents realize the importance of these historic bridges, Pennsylvania has the largest number of covered bridges in the nation. Today 219 bridges remain in 40 counties (Pennsylvania has a total of 67 counties). Lancaster County has more than any other county.

While covered bridges are sometimes called kissing bridges, the real reason for the covering is to protect the bridge’s truss design from the weather.

The longest covered bridge in the world was built in Lancaster County in 1814. It crossed the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville, a distance of over a mile (5,960 feet). Ice and high water destroyed it in 1832.

Covered bridge in snow

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