State officials estimate that Missouri had about thirty covered bridges from the 1820s through the end of the 19th century. As of 2023, there are just four historic wooden-covered bridges remaining in Missouri. All four are listed as State Historic Sites and under the protection of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. As of May 25, 1967, the state legislature authorized the Missouri State Park Board to take possession of the remaining bridges in order to repair and preserve them. At the time, five covered bridges remained, but the Mexico Covered Bridge was destroyed in a flood later that same year.

These remaining covered bridges were built in the mid-to-late 1800s, during a time when the Howe-truss design was a popular design in the construction of covered bridges. The Howe-truss system uses a combination of wooden verticals, diagonals, and iron rods to create a strong and durable structure.

Photographed in May of 2023