A Lot Of People Might Wonder What Covered Bridges Areand What Makes Them Different From Ordinary Bridges.Pictures Might Say It All But To Put It Plainly; Acovered Bridge Is A Bridge That Has Enclosures On Thesides And Has A Roof. They Are Usually Single-lane Andcan Only Accommodate A Light Load.Far From Being Prominent Landmarks And Architecturalcandies, They Were Originally Made For A Morepractical Reason - To Connect A Town That Isdeveloping On Two Sides Of A River. Early Nineteenthcentury America Saw The First Covered Bridges And Theywere Very Useful In Connecting Communities Together.Towns And Villages That Sprung Up In The Interiorparts Of The Countries Where Rivers, Streams Andcreeks Were A Plenty, Needed Bridges To Prevent Thedivision Of The Towns People And Helped Them Getconnected To Basic Infrastructures And Services. Theseunique Bridges Have Since Grown Into Prominence Asbigger Cities Rose In Coastal Areas, And Towns Wherethey Can Be Found Became Suburbs And Country Estates.Recently, Covered Bridges Are Catching The Attentionof Historic Preservationists Who Are Taking On Thecause Of Maintaining Covered Bridges For Theirhistorical Value.The Technical Aspect Of Covered BridgesEarly Covered Bridges Were Usually Made Of Wood Sincethere Was A Surplus Of Lumber At The Time They Werefirst Made. Modern Covered Bridges Though Are Commonlymade Of Steel Or Glass And Have Become More Intricateand Flamboyant In Its Design. Earlier Bridges Weremade To Look More Like A Barn So It Can Blend In Withthe Background Of The Country While Modern Ones Areusually Made To Stand Out. Ordinary Bridges Made Ofwood Are Always Exposed To The Elements, So Coveringthem Was A Very Ingenious Way To Extend Its Lifespan,save More Tax Money In Maintenance, And In The Olddays, As A Shelter For Travelers During Storms Andunfriendly Weather.A Majority Of Covered Bridges Use Trusses As A Keystructural Element In Its Design. The Most Popular Wasthe Brown Truss Used For Its Simplicity Andpracticality But Other Trusses Were Also Used. In Themodern Times, Steel And Concrete Has Become Moreavailable And Structurally Speaking, Safer. Thesedays, Covered Bridges Are Used Either Used Forconvenience Rather Than Protection, Or As Means Tomake A Design Statement.Whether For Style Or Convenience, Covered Bridges Havebecome Part Of The History Of American Towns That Grewand Prospered With Them. These Days A Lot Ofhistorical Conservationists Are Fighting For Thepreservation Of Old Covered Bridges As Part OfAmerican Heritage. Most Of The Bridges Are Found Inrural America And Thus More Susceptible To The Threatsof Arsonist, Vandals, And Flooding. Over Two Hundred(200) Covered Bridges Have Been Identified All OverAmerica And The Towns Where They Can Be Found Areinitiating The Fight To Preserve Them.Covered Bridges Have Played An Important Part OfAmericas History And Growth. Most Historians Agreethat They Are Significant Historical Pieces Thatshould Be Protected And Maintained In Order Topreserve The History Of Old Towns Where They Havebecome Landmarks. Though Modern Bridges Have Becomethe Ideal, Wooden Covered Bridges Are Still Able Tomaintain Its Rustic Charm - Something That Most Peopleare Looking For When They Go To The Country Side Toenjoy The Scenery. Towns Are Even Renovatingdilapidated Covered Bridges For The Same Reason, Andhopefully, Americas Great Grandchildren Can Stillenjoy These Historical Pieces Of American Engineeringfor Many Years To Come.
