Covered Bridges
North
Pole Covered Bridge
From Ripley go north on U.S. 68 1 mile then turn right on North Pole Road
(C.R. 15) for 3 miles
Stream: Eagle Creek
George
Miller Covered Bridge
From Russellville travel south on U.S. 62 for 1/2 mile then turn left on
George Miller Road (C.R.77) for 2 miles. Stream: Eagle Creek
More than 12,000 covered bridges have dotted America's landscape since the first was built in Philadelphia in 1805. At least 3,500 of these bridges were built in Ohio.
America offered a plentiful supply of wood for bridge building by local carpenters who used one of several patented designs for the truss or supporting structure.
Why were the bridges covered? Many believe that their resemblance to a barn lessened the fear of horses at a river crossing. While they certainly provided shelter from a sudden shower or a place for Saturday night sparking, the true reason was the protection afforded the truss from constant exposure to the weather. While an uncovered wooden bridge would last about 20 years, a covered truss would last about 100. All of Brown County's remaining covered bridges have now passed the century mark.
Today, five bridges remain as a part of Brown County's local heritage and history. Three of these are open to vehicular traffic, two are by-passed and open to foot traffic.
