Thompson Mill Covered Bridge

Thompson Mill Covered Bridge is a wooden structure crossing the Kaskaskia River that stretches about 160 feet in length. The bridge features a protective wooden roof and uses a Howe truss system to support the span across the water.

The bridge was built in 1868 using materials manufactured in Michigan that were transported by horse-drawn wagons from Shelbyville. This construction reflects the transportation and building methods of the 1800s.

The structure stands as one of only a handful of wooden river crossings still remaining in Illinois, showing how people once built bridges by hand. Walking across it, you can see and feel how the wooden framework and protective roof work together.

The bridge is located roughly 3 kilometers northeast of Cowden in Illinois and is open for pedestrian crossing. Motor vehicles are no longer permitted on the structure, so it serves only foot traffic.

At roughly 3.2 meters wide, this is the narrowest covered bridge in all of Illinois. This exceptionally tight width makes it a striking example of engineering from that era.

Location: Shelby County

Inception: 1868

GPS coordinates: 39.25830,-88.81810

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03