Bell Ford Bridge (old), a historic covered bridge, spans East Fork, White River in Indiana, in Seymour County. Built in 1869, the bridge features post truss construction, it represents the craftsmanship of its era.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bell Ford Bridge (old) 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.

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.

Explore Nearby

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• White River State Park — State Park in Indiana
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