Kentucky's "Timbered Tunnels" are rare and scenic connections to the past. Nestled along back roads like hidden jewels, Kentucky has 13 remaining covered bridges. Though just a sampling of the more than 400 covered bridges that spanned the state's waterways in the 1800s, the peak of covered bridge development in America, Kentucky's surviving covered bridges represent a variety of construction techniques and sizes.   

Covered bridges began to be built across Kentucky rivers and creeks in the late 1700s. Some were the work of nationally known bridge architect Lewis Wernwag. Constructed with often elaborate trusses made of wood, they were covered to keep the main timbers dry and protected from the elements, a service they also provided for travelers, their horses, and their cargo in the days before automobiles and trucks.  

The longest wooden covered bridge in the world once stood near the town of Butler, Kentucky. The Butler Station Bridge over Licking River consisted of three spans of 152 feet each, for a total length of 456 feet. The bridge was built in 1870 and 1871 at a total cost of $18,450. Severely damaged by winds and floodwaters in 1937, it was torn down in September of that year.

The loss of Kentucky's covered bridges began during the Civil War, when many were burned by troops on both sides of the conflict. The number of bridges continued to decline through the 20th century, victims to modern replacements, arson, and neglect. All of Kentucky's remaining covered bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A statewide program to repair and preserve Kentucky's covered bridges was announced in the fall of 1996.

A fourteenth surviving Kentucky-covered bridge truly is "covered" - by water. At the bottom of Herrington Lake near the Boyle-Garrard county line is the King's Mill Covered Bridge. When the lake was built in 1925, the old mill and bridge were left in place and were covered by the waters of the lake as they backed up behind the man-made dam. Due to the fact that the bridge has been completely immersed in freshwater, it is likely that this 175-foot span remains intact.

All Kentucky bridges were photographed in September of 2021.

The loss of Kentucky's covered bridges began during the Civil War, when many were burned by troops on both sides of the conflict. The number of bridges continued to decline through the 20th century, victims to modern replacements, arson, and neglect. All of Kentucky's remaining covered bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A statewide program to repair and preserve Kentucky's covered bridges was announced in the fall of 1996.

A fourteenth surviving Kentucky-covered bridge truly is "covered" - by water. At the bottom of Herrington Lake near the Boyle-Garrard county line is the King's Mill Covered Bridge. When the lake was built in 1925, the old mill and bridge were left in place and were covered by the waters of the lake as they backed up behind the man-made dam. Due to the fact that the bridge has been completely immersed in freshwater, it is likely that this 175-foot span remains intact.