Ceylon Covered Bridge

The Ceylon Covered Bridge is a wooden bridge crossing the Wabash River, representing a characteristic example of late 19th-century bridge design. The structure uses a truss system with a protective roof that shields the wooden frame and maintains the span across the water.

The bridge was built in 1879 by the Smith Bridge Company from Toledo, Ohio, a firm specializing in wooden truss structures of that era. It remains a rare example of rural Indiana's transportation infrastructure from the early period of industrialization.

This structure displays 19th-century craftsmanship through its wooden truss design and protective roof, techniques visitors can still see today as they cross. The engineering approach reflects the era before steel and concrete became standard, making it a tangible window into how builders worked back then.

The bridge is located within Limberlost County Park and can be explored on foot, allowing visitors to see both the structure and the river landscape up close. The setting provides accessible viewing and is a good spot to examine the construction details from nearby.

This bridge remains the only surviving covered bridge spanning the entire Wabash River, while other similar structures disappeared over the decades. This rare status makes it a valuable witness to a building method that is otherwise documented mainly in museums.

Location: Adams County

Inception: 1862

GPS coordinates: 40.61417,-84.94306

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:41