Thompson Mill Covered Bridge

Thompson Mill Covered Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nearest city	Cowden, Illinois
Coordinates	39°15′30″N 88°49′5″W / 39.25833°N 88.81806°WCoordinates: 39°15′30″N 88°49′5″W / 39.25833°N 88.81806°W
Area	0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built	1868
NRHP Reference #	75000675[1]
Added to NRHP	March 13, 1975

Thompson Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge which crosses the Kaskaskia River 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Cowden, Illinois. The 160-foot-4-inch (48.87 m) Howe truss bridge is only 10 feet 7 inches (3.23 m) wide, making it the narrowest covered bridge in Illinois. The bridge was constructed in 1868; it was built in Michigan, shipped to Shelbyville, and hauled to the river crossing by horse-drawn wagons. The road the bridge carried was an important transportation corridor connecting Springfield, Taylorville, and Effingham. The bridge also provided area residents access to the Thompson Mill, a corn mill and sawmill which operated from 1843 to 1914.^[2]

The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1975.^[1] It is now one of only five historic covered bridges remaining in Illinois. The bridge has been closed to automobile traffic but remains open to pedestrians.^[3]

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. Mulgrew, John C. (September 18, 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Thompson Mill Covered Bridge" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
3. "Thompson Mill Covered Bridge". Robin Hood Woods Campground & Resort. Retrieved October 16, 2013.