New Brownsville Bridge, a historic covered bridge, spans Mill Run Creek in Indiana, in Columbus County. Built in 1840, the bridge features long truss construction, it represents the craftsmanship of its era.

Covered bridges like this one were built with roofs and siding not for the comfort of travelers but to protect the load-bearing timber trusses from rain and snow. Without this protection, exposed wooden bridges typically lasted only ten to fifteen years, while covered bridges could stand for a century or more with proper maintenance.

Indiana’s covered bridges are celebrated annually at the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, one of the largest festivals in the state, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each October.

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.

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