Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge

Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge is a wooden structure that spans the creek below using traditional joinery and heart pine materials in its frame. The bridge maintains its historic appearance with visible timber elements and a covered passage that protects the roadway.

Construction took place in the 1840s under the direction of Horace King, an engineer of remarkable skill who was born into enslavement. His work on this bridge represents a significant chapter in the state's infrastructure development during that era.

The National Register of Historic Places listed this bridge in 1973, representing the engineering skills of early American bridge builders.

The structure remains open to vehicle traffic on Covered Bridge Road and provides parking for those wanting to stop and look around. Visitors can approach from multiple angles to view the details of the wooden construction and design.

The bridge holds together through about 2,500 wooden pegs called trunnels rather than metal fasteners, a detail that catches many visitors' attention. This approach to joining the frame shows an alternative way of thinking about structural durability that differs from modern methods.