New Salem Covered Bridge

Commerce County, Georgia

New Salem Covered Bridge spans Grove Creek in Georgia, in Commerce County. Built in 1915, the bridge features king post construction, it represents the craftsmanship of its era.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, New Salem Covered Bridge stands as a testament to the engineering ingenuity that defined American bridge building in the nineteenth century. Covered bridges were enclosed not for the comfort of travelers but to protect the structural timbers from weather, dramatically extending the lifespan of these wooden spans.

Georgia’s remaining covered bridges represent rare survivors of the antebellum and Reconstruction-era infrastructure that once connected communities across the rural Piedmont and mountain regions.

Visitors can typically view and photograph the bridge year-round from nearby roads and paths. Fall foliage season provides an especially picturesque setting, when the surrounding hardwood forests frame the weathered timbers in brilliant color. Many covered bridge enthusiasts plan driving tours connecting multiple bridges in a single region, making these structures ideal waypoints for a day of scenic exploration.