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Hamilton, Illinois, Covered Bridge
Hamilton, Illinois, Covered Bridge

From www.hamiltonillinois.org/history2.html

The idea of covered bridges was brought to America from Europe in the early 1800's. The roofs on the bridges were practical notions, as protection for the wooden spans. At one time, 10,000 of these structures dotted the US, but by 1960, the number had dwindled to approximately 1000. At 169 feet, the longest covered bridge in Illinois was the historic bridge here in Hamilton. Hamilton Covered BridgeTragically, the bridge was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1969. Used for 2 years until a permanent replacement was constructed, the covered bridge was then moved across a slough of the Mississippi River. This was at the entrance to a road that was parallel to the dike to the Mississippi River bridge. The wooden span had been taken carefully apart and transported by barge where it was reassembled at its new location. At one time, a toll booth was at the entrance to this bridge.

A new roadway was built from Hamilton to the Mississippi River bridge in 1955, which then by-passed the covered bridge and winding road. At this time, the bridge and surrounding land became the property of the State of Illinois, and was then used for pedestrian traffic only. Situated at the foot of Main Street, the old covered bridge was the approach to Montebello Recreation Area. Prior to 1955, it is said that this was the only covered bridge to carry heavy inter-state traffic, as other bridges were located in rural areas.

Bridge description: bridgehunter.com/il/hancock/hamilton-covered/

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Taken on: March 19, 2020
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Hamilton, Illinois Hamilton, Illinois Everybody's photos tagged with Covered Bridge Covered Bridge
Sets appears in:   • Covered Bridges    • Illinois   
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Hamilton, Illinois, Covered Bridge

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