Mount Zion Covered Bridge

Mount Zion Covered Bridge was a 280 feet (85 m) long Burr truss covered bridge near Mooresville, Kentucky.[1][2] It was built in 1871 and burned down in 2021. For 150 years it spanned the Little Beech Fork[2] north of Mooresville on Kentucky Route 458.[2]

Mount Zion Covered Bridge
2019
Mount Zion Covered Bridge is located in Kentucky
Mount Zion Covered Bridge
Mount Zion Covered Bridge is located in the United States
Mount Zion Covered Bridge
Nearest cityMooresville, Kentucky
Coordinates37°49′41″N 85°15′23″W
Area2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built1871
Built byBarnes, H.L.; Barnes, William F.
Architectural styleBurr truss
Demolished2021
NRHP reference No.76000958[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 26, 1976

The bridge had been closed to vehicular traffic when a new bridge was constructed beside it, but it remained a tourist attraction as the longest multi-span covered bridge in Kentucky.[3]

Beech Fork, Mooresville, and Mount Zion were all accepted names for the bridge. Mount Zion appears to be the most used historic name. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[1] Records from 1871 indicate it to be 280 feet long and 18 feet wide, but a measurement taken by Kentucky's Department of Transportation in the 1970s measured it at 211 feet.[2]

During a 2015-2017 restoration of the bridge it was determined by the contractor, Arnold M. Graton Associates of Ashland, New Hampshire, that the arches were a very early modification to the bridge. As such, the bridge was reclassified as a Multiple Kingpost Truss with added arches.

It burned down on March 9, 2021; suspected arson.[4][5][6]

  • Bridge before 2015 renovation
    Bridge before 2015 renovation
  • Covered bridge side by side with newer vehicular traffic bridge (2019)
    Covered bridge side by side with newer vehicular traffic bridge (2019)
  • Interior view of arches (2019)
    Interior view of arches (2019)
Mount Zion bridge stone foundations after the arson in 2021

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Mount Zion Covered Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved September 12, 2018. With accompanying photo from 1975 and map
  3. Day, Teresa (July 2, 2020). "Covered Bridges". visitlex.com.
  4. "Fire destroys 1 of few remaining covered bridges in Kentucky". Associated Press. March 10, 2021.
  5. "Historic Kentucky covered bridge engulfed in flames, 150-years of history destroyed". Bluegrass Live. March 10, 2021.
  6. Stunson, Mike (March 10, 2021). "150-year-old Kentucky bridge destroyed by fire, photos show. The sheriff wants answers". Lexington Herald-Leader.

Bibliography
  • Alien, Richard S. Covered Bridges of the South. New York: Bonanza Books, 1970.
  • Kentucky Covered Bridge Association. Timbered Tunnel Talk. Newport, Kentucky (various issues).
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