Few structures in America combine architectural ingenuity, economic necessity and romantic idealism better than the covered bridge. A new Smithsonian exhibition, Covered Bridges: Spanning the American Landscape, will celebrate these iconic structures and the individuals behind their development through photographs, architectural schematics and models. The exhibition is on display in Rockville through April 16.

Though they first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages, covered bridges flourished in the United States in the 19th century, where they helped encourage the country’s economic development by way of a growing network of roads. The first covered bridge in the country appeared over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia in 1805, and by the 1870s more than 10,000 covered the American landscape as part of the country’s westward expansion.

From the beginning, individual inventiveness played an important role in the proliferation of covered bridges. As the industry grew, individual builders experimented and adapted each other’s designs in hopes of finding a means to build stronger bridges with the least amount of materials. In addition to being visually appealing, the resulting structures were engineering masterpieces—both important factors in their survival today.

Covered bridges grew in popularity among the general public in the early 20th century and became attractive subjects for artists and advertisers. They appeared in advertisements for everything from tires to thermal underwear, feeding the nation’s desire for nostalgia. In some cases, advertisers took their messages to the bridges themselves, creating enormous billboards on both the interiors and exteriors.

Despite their appeal, between 1870 and 1970, 90 percent of the country’s covered bridges were destroyed by arsonists, natural causes and progress in transportation. Today only about 750 remain, concentrated mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont, Indiana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Community leaders in these states have recognized their value as a tourist attraction, and they have become symbols of community pride and history. Perhaps no single person did more for the covered bridge in recent times than author Robert James Waller, whose 1992 book “The Bridges of Madison County” stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 150 weeks.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play.

The Smithsonian Institute Traveling Exhibit: Covered Bridges Spanning the American Landscape is open for viewing at the Tourist Information Center located at 401 E Ohio in Rockville (Train Depot) until April 16.  The exhibit is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

"The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by Metlife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of these public programs."  Parke County REMC and the Parke County Community Foundation Blaine Fund are also sponsors of this event.