The 1877 Kintersburg Covered Bridge is a covered bridge spanning Crooked Creek in Rayne Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Kintersburg Bridge was named by Isaac Kinter in honor of his father, John Kinter, a Revolutionary War veteran. J.S. Fleming, a Civil War veteran who was injured at the Battle of Cedar Creek, erected the bridge over the creek for $893. This 68-foot bridge is the only Howe truss bridge in Indiana County and one of only five Howe truss bridges remaining in the state of Pennsylvania. The other four are the McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge in Lawrence County, Mean's Ford Covered Bridge in Bucks County, St. Mary's Covered Bridge in Huntingdon County, and the Thomas Mill Covered Bridge in Philadelphia County.

William Howe of Massachusetts patented the truss design in 1840. Howe’s patent was the first to use iron with wood to strengthen the truss. The Howe truss features vertical tension iron rods connecting the upper and lower ridge chords. The rods could be adjusted as needed to keep the bridge in shape.

The Howe truss is considered by some to be the strongest of wooden trusses. It was the forerunner to the modern-day iron bridges. There are 124 Howe truss covered bridges remaining in the United States. Oregon leads the states in the use of Howe truss bridges.

Kintersburg Bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Located at:  N40 42.812   W79 04.874      -      WGCB #38-32-05

Photographed in June of 2025

Photos by Millard Farmer