Harrisburg Covered Bridge. A truss covered bridge, located in Sevierville, TN. A great place to check out a historic covered bridge in East Tennessee.
Harrisburg Covered Bridge
I always saw the signs for this covered bridge when we would take our youth to Gatlinburg for our winter trip for Xtreme Winter. Always wanting to go check it out, I got the opportunity to go check it out in September 2016. This covered bridge is in the next county over from me. It is not that far of a drive. It is amazing the things you can find that are near where you live. I believe I plan to blog about some of these gems.
This historic spot would make a great place for photo shoots. Maybe engagements, weddings and graduation. Plus, I took Heather of SimplySpokn to see this as she loves photography and covered bridges September 2017, almost a year after my first visit.
Located
The Harrisburg Covered Bridge, located in Seveirville, TN just off U.S. Highway 441. It goes over the Little Pigeon River.
Under the Covered Bridge
This covered bridge is a historic covered bridge.
Other Names for the Covered Bridge
It has also been called the Pigeon River Covered Bridge, East Fork Bridge or McNutts Bridge, built in 1875. Later that year, destroyed by a flood. So they rebuilt the bridge! Not to mention, It later became a National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Around 100 years after it was first built.
Rebuilt
The current bridge, rebuilt and restored a few times. According to the sign at the bridge, it was also restored in 1972 (see below). For example, again in 1983, they redid the flooring of the bridge to keep it there. It faced being closed.
Stone Sign before the Covered Bridge
This is what the stone sign before the bridge reads …
The Harrisburg Covered Bridge, located in Sevier County, Tennessee was built by Elbert Stephenson Early in 1875 and restored in 1972. The restoration was a joint effort through the Great Smokies Chapter and the Spenser Clark Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution along with employees of the Sevier County Highway Department.
Jonas Smelecer, Highway Superintendent, and the Sevier County Highway Department employees, along with the Sevier County Court received a federal grand and completely restored the structure as close to the original bridge as possible. This work was completed in early 2005.
Metal Sign On the Covered Bridge
Harrisburg Covered Bridge built in 1875. Dedicated by Great Smokies Chapter and Spencer Clark Chatper Daughters of American Revolution of the 14th Day of June 1972.
Size of the Covered Bridge
The span of the bridge is 64 feet (19.5 m), the total length 88 feet (26.9 m), the inner width 10 feet (3.2 m).
What is a Truss Bridge?
“A truss is simply an interconnected framework of beams that holds something up. The beams are usually arranged in a repeated triangular pattern, since a triangle cannot be distorted by stress. In a truss bridge, two long – usually straight members known as chords – form the top and bottom; they are connected by a web of vertical posts and diagonals. The bridge is supported at the ends by abutments and sometimes in the middle by piers.
A properly designed and built truss will distribute stresses throughout its structure, allowing the bridge to safely support its own weight, the weight of vehicles crossing it, and wind loads. The truss does not support the roadway from above, like a suspension bridge, or from below, like an arch bridge. rather, it makes the roadway stiffer and stronger, helping it hold together against the various loads it encounters.”
(Eric DeLony, a bridge historian, The Golden Age, Invention and Technology, 1994).
Respect
When you visit show respect for property of those that live near the bridge. Do not park in their grass or trespass on their property too. It is a one car bridge, so don’t hold up traffic standing in the bridge or sitting in your car in the bridge. Not to mention, please don’t liter! Also, please taking nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints! Plus, Please do not destroy the bridge by writing on it or by graffiti.
Other Covered Bridges in Tennessee
From what I can tell it is the last remaining covered bridge in Sevier County. Which makes it one of four covered bridges in the State of Tennessee. According to tn.gov these are the remaining covered bridges in Tennessee. Bible Covered Bridge in Greene County, Elizabethton Covered Bridge in Carter County and Parks Covered Bridge in Obion County.
I would love to go visit these other three covered bridges in Tennessee. One of them is close to where I am in Greene County the Bible Covered Bridge. I see a future trip to at least that covered bridge and a future blog post about it too.
Any Covered Bridges Near You?
Do you have any covered bridges near you? If so, please feel free to share about that covered bridge. Also include where that covered bridge is located. Your comments are welcome!
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