A.M. Foster bridge, Cabot, Vermont, USA

© Alan Majchrowicz/Getty Image

A.M. Foster bridge, Vermont, USA

At one point in history, the United States had upwards of 14,000 wooden covered bridges. Most of them were built between 1825 and 1875 to cross a stream or river and were intended to withstand the elements. An uncovered wooden bridge may have a lifespan of only about 20 years while a covered bridge could last more than 100. Even still, they don’t fare well without upkeep and restoration costs can be high. Iron replaced wood as the preferred and cheaper bridge-building material in the mid-1800’s. These days, fewer than 900 of the original wooden covered bridges are believed to still be standing. Vermont currently has 104 of them, the highest density of remaining covered bridges in the United States. The Alonzo Merrill Foster covered bridge seen in today’s photo can be found in Cabot, Vermont.