Sandy Creek Covered Bridge
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 17.642 W 090° 31.583
15S E 716322 N 4241334
One of the four remaining historic covered bridges remaining in Missouri, this bridge spans the Sandy Creek near the town of Hillsboro.
Waymark Code: WM19HX
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 03/05/2007
Views: 24
Sandy Creek Covered Bridge was constructed in 1872 by John H. Morse and was one of six covered bridges built on the Hillsboro and Lemay Ferry gravel road connecting the county seat of Hillsboro and St. Louis. The bridge is 74 feet, 6 inches long and 18 feet, 10 inches wide, with an entrance height of 13 feet. The bridge is constructed of white pine and uses the Howe-truss design, named for William Howe. Howe patented his design in 1840. The design uses vertical rods to draw wooden members tight against the top and bottom of the bridge. The bridge was washed out by spring floods of 1886 and was replaced in August of the same year using as much of the previous bridge as could be salvaged. In 1967 the Missouri legislature passed bill which authorized the State Parks to take possession of and restore the remaining covered bridges in the state. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1984 the bridge was completely restored to its historic appearance. The bridge is now only open to pedestrian traffic.
Street address:
5 mi. N of Hillsboro off U.S. 21
Hillsboro, Missouri
County / Borough / Parish: Jefferson County
Year listed: 1970
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1850-1874
Historic function: Transportation - Road-Related, Water-Related
Current function: Landscape - Park
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Privately owned?: Not Listed
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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