Burfordville Covered Bridge
Posted by: 
paulspaper
N 37° 22.096 W 089° 48.163
16S E 251806 N 4139412
Burfordville Covered Bridge is the oldest remaining covered bridge in Missouri. Located in Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.
Waymark Code: WM2CN2
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 10/12/2007
Views: 15
Joseph Lansmon began its construction in 1858, but it is unclear if the bridge was completed before or after the Civil War. The bridge was not mentioned in St. Louis newspaper accounts of the 1861 burning of Bollinger Mill, located next to the bridge. After the Civil War, the bridge became a vital link, especially to farmers driving wagonloads of grain destined for the mill.
The bridge exhibits Howe-truss construction, named for William Howe, who patented the design in 1840. The essential feature of the design was its use of vertical iron rods to draw the diagonal wooden members tight against the top and bottom of the truss. The Howe-truss span was built mainly of yellow poplar. Burfordville Covered Bridge, which spans the Whitewater River, is 140 feet long and has a clearance 14 feet high and 12 feet wide.
Street address:
CR HH
Burfordville, MO USA
63739
County / Borough / Parish: Cape Girardeau
Year listed: 1970
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1850-1874
Historic function: Transportation
Current function: Transportation
Privately owned?: no
Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2007 To: 12/31/2007
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 1: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.