Bridges of Madison County

Many of us have heard of the book and movie The Bridges of Madison County. After visiting some covered bridges on our trip to the northeast last fall, seeing the sign for Covered Bridges of Madison County made my heart happy. We saw one of the bridges on our first drive to Winterset because it was the location of a geocache. We agreed we would explore a few others when we came back the next morning. I kiddingly told Hubby, we did not have to see more than two if they all looked alike. We saw three of the six and honestly, unlike the ones in Vermont, these look very much alike. (An architectural engineer would disagree.)

There may have been a hundred covered bridges built between 1850 and 1900. Almost all have been destroyed by flooding, collisions, demolition or vandalism. Madison County originally had 19 covered bridges. Only 6 remain. 

Hogback Bridge

named after a nearby limestone ridge

built in 1884 by Harvey P. Jones & George K. Foster

106' with a Town lattice truss system

wide plank flooring

supported by iron cylinder piers

carried vehicle traffic into the 1990s

rehabilitated in 1992 at a cost of $118,810

National Register of Historic Places in 1976

interesting wall graffiti

quite an interesting story

the North River and the modern traffic bridge

nearby chicory

Cedar Bridge

moved from its original location in 1921

restored in 1998 at cost of $128,073

"Cedar Bridge became world famous in 1992, when it played a prominent role in Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County. In the book, Cedar Bridge is where Francesca Johnson goes to meet Robert Kincaid to help him take photographs. A photograph of Cedar Bridge adorns the cover of this world-wide bestseller."

"In 1993, Oprah Winfrey broadcast one of her shows from Cedar Bridge. Calling The Bridges of Madison County her 'favorite book of the year,' Oprah brought author Robert Waller and her entire crew on location. The wooden stairway built next to the bridge for the show are affectionately known locally as the Oprah steps."

There is a small park and picnic area near this Cedar Bridge.

the bridges were covered in order to preserve the large flooring timbers,

which were more expensive to replace than the lumber 

used to cover the bridge sides and roof

the original Cedar Bridge was destroyed by an arsonist in 2002

Cedar Bridge is the last covered bridge open to vehicles

built in 1883 by H.P. Jones

78' long

graffiti wall

Cedar Bridge was destroyed a second time by arson in 2017

and rebuilt at a cost of $719, 663

re-dedicated in 2019

but no longer on the National Register of Historical Places

chicory and wild carrot flowers nearby

Cutler-Donahue Bridge

two families claimed 'ownership' of the bridge

built in 1870 by Eli Cox

moved from its original location over the North River in 1979

now located in Winterset City Park

79' long

has a peak roof and only one main beam

making it a much lighter bridge

and a stone bridge also in the city park