Thomas Mill Covered Bridge

Thomas Mill Covered Bridge spans Wissahickon Creek with a length of about 86 feet and features thick red wooden walls surrounding an interior timber frame structure. Inside, the Howe truss design uses interlocking beams to distribute weight and maintain stability.

Construction finished in 1855, making it the last covered bridge to survive in Philadelphia. In the 1930s it received a complete restoration that added modern support systems underneath.

The bridge shows how builders in the 1800s created lasting wooden structures using tried-and-true methods. Visitors can observe the craftsmanship of that period when walking through it.

The site is accessible on foot and by bicycle through marked trails starting from the parking area on Chestnut Hill Avenue. Access is straightforward, though trails descend through a wooded valley, so sturdy footwear is recommended.

What sets it apart is that people still cross it daily in a real forest setting, despite its age of nearly 170 years. This living use makes it different from many historic bridges that have become purely ornamental monuments.