Both a history and a guide, this book offers scenic tours to all 106 of Vermont's covered bridges and tells the rich stories behind them. For many people, covered bridges are much more than picturesque: They represent a living link with an alluring part of our past. Along with a sense of romance, we associate them with an era of hard work, creativity, and ingenuity. Each bridge sparks a new question: Why was it built, how, when, and by whom? How has it lasted when so many others have disappeared? This guide will answer these and many other questions about all 106 of Vermont's authentic, historic covered bridges. Arranged by convenient driving tours, it provides precise directions to help travelers find each bridge--touring through the most scenic countryside along the way--and shares each bridge's history and folklore. Advice on photographing the bridges, parking, and finding nearby historical sites and museums is also included in each tour. An introduction tells the colorful story of "the great truss race" in the early days of bridge architecture and design. Detailed scenic driving tours make this book useful to anyone exploring the back roads of Vermont. Superb maps mark the location of all 106 covered bridges. 60 black-and-white photographs.
Ed Barna is a freelance writer whose articles on travel and history have appeared in Vermont Magazine, Vermont Life, The Rutland Herald, and other publications. An expert on Vermont's covered bridges, Ed has taught classes and led tours on the subject around the state.
Publisher: Countryman Press
Published: 20001000
Pages: 216
A remarkable amount of history and folklore surrounding covered bridges...serves as a kind of native guide to these irreplaceable treasures. (Paul Bruhn, executive director, Vermont Preservation Trust)
