Humpback Bridge-Covington, Virginia-That's My World

Saturday morning hubby and I took off for the Covington/Lake Moomaw area to look at properties. Of course, I always have side trips planned once the business portion of the day is completed. So, Saturday's trip included a visit to the Humpback Bridge. We definitely were not disappointed in this excursion. We will be returning come Fall for a picnic in the Park.

The Humpback Bridge is located three miles west of Covington, Virginia. It can be reached by traveling on US 64 and exiting at exit 10. The bridge was built for the old James River and Kanawha Turnpike Company. It is located on its original location. There are five acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, restrooms and picnic tables alongside Dunlap Creek.

It is the only single span 100 foot wooden arched covered bridge in Virginia and maybe in the United States. The Humpback Bridge is unique as far as bridge designs. It has its original hand-hewn timbers which are put together with hand-made locust pins. The span is 120 feet long, with abutments placed 100 feet apart, with no middle support. The center of the floor and roof is about four feet higher than at the ends, thus giving the humped appearance from whence it was named. It is the only bridge of its design in the United States.

The bridge served many a traveler until 1929, when it was abandoned for traffic with the completion of the Midland Trail.

The bridge was restored by the State Highway Department in 1954 which matched a $5,000 fund raised locally by the Covington Business and Professional Women's Club.

Unfortunately, teenagers have decided to adorn the interior of the bridge with graffiti.

In this shot you can see the bowed/humpback effect.

Humpback Covered Bridge Chronology

(as recorded at the National Register for Historic Places):

1784 - George Washington tours the Alleghany region and reports to the Virginia Assembly the necessity of constructing a system of canals and turnpikes to open trade and communication with the west

1785 – James River Company incorporated

1816 – Virginia Board of Public Works established

1820 – Virginia General Assembly passes an act making the James River Company a state-operated venture and authorizes construction of a 208-mile road from the mouth of Dunlap Creek to the great falls of the Kanawha River

1824 – Three bridges were constructed on Dunlap Creek west of Covington, VA

1837 – Flood destroys all three bridges on Dunlap Creek and they are subsequently rebuilt

1842 – Flood destroys all bridges on the turnpike between Covington, VA and Lewisburg, WV and they are subsequently rebuilt

1849 – Upper Dunlap Creek Bridge rebuilt

1850 – Middle Dunlap Creek Bridge rebuilt

1856 – Flood destroys Lower Dunlap Creek Bridge

1857 – Present Humpback Covered Bridge built

1929 – Humpback Covered Bridge bypassed

1953 – Covington Business & Professional Women’s Club raises money for repairs and preservation of Humpback Covered Bridge

1954 – Humpback Covered Bridge restored and surrounding land developed as a public park

1969 – Humpback Covered Bridge designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places

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