Iowa is home to several notable and historic landmarks. These include the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, and of course, the timeless Bridges of Madison County. But just how many of these bridges remain? Some have been moved, others have broken down with the passage of time, and still others have been split in two and placed in different locations.
They are, quite possibly the most famous structures in the entire state. Reminiscent of a bygone era, the red covered bridges of Iowa have been romanticized in American literature for decades and have been the backdrop in a Broadway musical. They have even been the subject of a major motion picture, starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep in the 90s, called ‘The Bridges of Madison County.’
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The era of covered bridges in North America spans slightly over two centuries, including the covered bridges in Madison County, Iowa, which were built between 1868-1889. There were at least nineteen documented covered bridges built in Madison County, making it the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa. Today, there are six bridges remaining, five of which are original.
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