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Covered bridges
are
significant historic structures
that symbolize small-town America. Something
from the nineteenth century, a little
archaic and strange to modern eyes, the
covered bridges recall a time when life was
simpler and closer to the land. Photogenic
and often remote from the interstate
highways and cities of the twentieth
century, covered bridges lure the explorer
to find the little streams and dirt roads
that the twentieth century has almost passed
by.
Covered bridges
have a romantic quality that we associate
with times when life moved more slowly. The
shade they provided made them a natural
place to pause from the summer's heat.
Pausing was for some a chance to steal a
private kiss, hence, their nickname "kissing
bridges"! Others used the time spent
traversing a covered bridge to make a wish.
The covered bridge is an important and significant historic
structure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Bucks County
at one time had more than 50 covered bridges, only 12 of
which still stand today. The goal of the Bucks County
Covered Bridge Society is to help preserve these remaining
bridges for a long time to come.
The Bucks County Covered Bridge Society celebrates the
history, craftsmanship and beauty of the 12 remaining
covered bridges of Bucks County:
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Cabin Run Covered Bridge
Location:
Covered Bridge Rd., Plumstead Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. 10 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 82 ft. Weight Limit: 3 tons
BUILT in 1871, this bridge crosses the Cabin
Run Creek, so named for the small houses
that dotted its banks in the 19th century.
It is located a short distance downstream
from the Loux Covered Bridge and just down
the road from historic Stover-Myers Mill.
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Frankenfield Covered Bridge
Location:
Hollow Horn and Cafferty Rd., Tinicum Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. 3 in. Width: 12 ft.
Length: 130 ft. Weight Limit: None
BUILT in 1872, the Frankenfield Covered
Bridge crosses Tinicum Creek in an area once
known for its abundant turtle population and
only two miles upstream from where the creek
flows into the Delaware River. This bridge
is one of the longest covered bridges in the
County. |
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Erwinna Covered Bridge
Location:
Geigel Hill Rd., Tinicum Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. Width: 15 ft
Length: 56 ft. Weight Limit: 29 tons
ALTHOUGH the National Historic Register
lists the date built as 1871, county records
suggest this bridge was built in 1832. The
Erwinna Covered Bridge, which crosses Lodi
Creek, is a good example of the lattice-type
construction and is Bucks County's shortest
covered bridge. |
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The Loux Covered Bridge
Location:
Wismer Rd., Plumstead Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 60 ft. Weight Limit: 15 tons
BUILT of hemlock in 1874, you'll find this
bridge is one of two bridges to span the
Cabin Run Creek. Nestled in a scenic valley,
it was built at the insistence of local
residents who complained about the dangers
of crossing the creek. |

Photo courtesy of
Sandy Levy |
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South Perkasie Covered Bridge
Location:
Lenape Park, Walnut St., Perkasie
Height Limit: No Vehicle Access. Width: 15
ft.
Length: 93 ft. Weight Limit: No Vehicle
Access
BUILT in 1832 of pine and oak, this bridge
once crossed Pleasant Spring Creek until it
was condemned to traffic and is now owned by
the Perkasie Historical Society. It was
moved to Lenape Park near the East Branch of
the Perkiomen Creek in 1958. |

Photo courtesy of
Sandy Levy |
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Uhlerstown Covered Bridge
Location:
Uhlerstown Rd., Tinicum Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. 3 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 101 ft. Weight Limit: None
BUILT in 1832, this bridge is built of oak
and has windows on both sides. It is the
only covered bridge that crosses the
Delaware Canal. |

Photo courtesy of
Sandy Levy |
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Knecht's Covered Bridge
Location:
Knecht's Rd., Springfield Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. 6 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 110 in. Weight Limit: 3 tons
Built in 1873, this bridge
is also known as "Slifer's Bridge". Built of
hemlock, it crosses Durham Creek, which was once
known as "Cook's Creek". |
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Mood's Covered Bridge
Location:
Blooming Glen Rd., E. Rockhill Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft. 2 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 120 ft. Weight Limit: None
Built in 1874 and spanning
the Perkiomen Creek just outside Perkasie, Mood's
Covered Bridge is one of the most used bridges in
Bucks County. Its timbers were damaged by a truck in
1993 and it was subsequently restored, but was
struck again by another truck in January 2004 and
then was almost completely destroyed by arson in
June of 2004. |
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Pine Valley Covered Bridge
Location:
Old Iron Hill Rd., New Britain Twp.
Height Limit: 11 ft 10 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 81 ft. Weight Limit: None
Built
in 1842 of native hemlock and pine, the bridge is
also known as "Iron Hill Bridge". The bridge crosses
Pine Run Creek, which was named after the hardy
neighboring pine trees. |
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Schofield Ford Covered Bridge
Location: Tyler State Park, off Swamp
Rd., Newtown Twp.
Height Limit: 13 ft. Width: 16 ft.
Length: 170 ft. Weight Limit: No Vehicle Access
Originally built in 1873, it burned down in 1991,
and was rebuilt in 1997. Built of native hemlock and
oak, this town truss bridge is the longest in Bucks
County. Also known as "Twining Ford Bridge", it
crosses Neshaminy Creek. |
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Sheard's Mill Covered Bridge
Location: Covered Bridge Rd., on the
border of Haycock and E. Rockhill Twps.
Height Limit: 12 ft. 1 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 130 in. Weight Limit: None
Built in 1873, this bridge spans Tohickon Creek and
is one of several Bucks County covered bridges built
to aid farmers transporting grain to local mills. |
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Van Sant Covered Bridge
Location: Covered Bridge Rd.,
Solebury Twp.
Height Limit: 12 ft. 6 in. Width: 15 ft.
Length: 86 ft. Weight Limit: 7 tons
Built in 1875, and also known as "Beaver Dam
Bridge", this bridge crosses Pidcock Creek. You'll
find this bridge is close to Bowman's Hill and the
Thompson-Neeley House, part of Washington Crossing
Historic Park. |
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