viii, 148 pp. "The covered bridge is one of the last surviving icons of rural America. Originally designed with roof-like covers to protect the wooden support beams from the elements, the covered bridge dominated bridge design for fifty years, until the Bessemer process introduced the cheap steel which then became the material of preference. Yet these bridges over the years have been treasured for their rustic charm, romantic atmosphere (they are nicknamed "kissing bridges"), curious engineering, and historical value. Now, Historic American Covered Bridges presents a superb photographic record of 138 historic covered bridges found in the United States and Canada. Compiled by Brian J. McKee, a leading authority on covered bridges, the book features a full color photography of each bridge, detailed truss diagrams, basic construction details, and information about the locale, including where to find the bridge. Plus, the book provides an index of the nearly 1,000 surviving covered bridges in North America. Among the featured bridges are two of the longest covered bridges left in the United States, the Medora and Williams bridges; Kentucky's Bennett Mill Bridge, the only surviving Wheeler truss bridge; and the Stark Bridge in New Hampshire, which provides one the most picturesque scenes in America. The volume also includes the Roberts Bridge, the only remaining double-barreled covered bridge in Ohio and one of only six remaining in the United States, and the Parker Bridge, which was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1991, but restored in 1992, after a fundraising drive. Boasting 138 full-color bridge photographs and including some bridges that are more than 150 years old, Historic American Covered Bridges provides a lasting reminder of America's heritage."
