Bridges Between Us: A Photo Essay on Covered Bridges in CPCNH Communities

When CPCNH moved into its new offices at 100 N. Main Street in Concord in September 2025, I had an idea: to represent each of our member communities through a photograph and capture the unique beauty of each location and of the Granite State as a whole. But what began as a simple wall art project quickly turned into something more revealing.

As I researched each member community, I noticed a recurring feature: covered bridges. New Hampshire has many covered bridges—more than 50 in total—and ranks fifth in the nation for the number of covered bridges (behind Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vermont and Indiana). I hadn’t set out to find these architecturally distinctive, often historic, and naturally beautiful structures, but they kept appearing, each with its own character and nestled uniquely into the landscape. Some of our member municipalities had several—up to four—and a few are home to some of the country’s most iconic covered bridges.

While many of these are historic, with some dating back to the 1800s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, others are more recent, built in a traditional style to honor local heritage or provide functional crossings that echo New Hampshire’s architectural past.

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The Power of Community

Now on display at CPCNH’s new offices in Concord, The Power of Community is a wall art installation featuring more than 60 photographs of our member communities. From historic mills and downtowns to sweeping natural vistas and iconic covered bridges, the collection captures the shared landscapes and unique character that define the communities powering New Hampshire’s transition to local, reliable, and resilient energy.

A printed key helps visitors identify each image, and members are warmly invited to visit, explore, and learn more about the communities these scenes represent. Stay tuned for updates on our “living wall art”—a growing tribute to the people and places powering a more resilient future.

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By the Numbers

A surprising number of CPCNH communities have one or more covered bridges, many of them listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In fact, six communities have two or more:

• Cornish leads the way with four covered bridges: the iconic Cornish–Windsor Bridge (the longest wooden covered bridge and longest single span carrying automobile traffic in the U.S.), the Kenyon (Blacksmith Shop) Bridge, the Blow-Me-Down Bridge, and Dingleton Hill Bridge.

• Campton is notable for its collection of covered bridges, including Blair Bridge, Turkey Jim’s Bridge, and Bump Bridge.

• Conway also has three covered bridges, each with its own character: the Saco River Bridge, the historic Swift River Bridge, and the Stoney Morrell Bridge.

• Newport is home to three historic bridges: the scenic Corbin Covered Bridge, the railroad-era Pier Bridge, and Wright’s Bridge.

• Hopkinton features two notable bridges: Rowell’s Covered Bridge, built in 1853, and the Contoocook Railroad Bridge—the oldest surviving covered railroad bridge in the U.S.

• Langdon has two beautifully preserved bridges: the Cold River (McDermott) Bridge, and the Prentiss Bridge—the shortest covered bridge in New Hampshire.

• Warner also boasts two: the Dalton Bridge, which spans the Warner River, and the larger Waterloo Bridge just outside town.

Many other communities, including Bradford, Lyme, Plainfield, Peterborough, Winchester, and Tamworth, feature single bridges, many still in use. Taken together, more than 35 covered bridges span CPCNH communities, reflecting local craftsmanship, civic pride, and a shared commitment to stewarding infrastructure that stands the test of time.

Cornish	Cornish–Windsor Bridge (National Register of Historic Places [NRHP] listed; 1866); Blow-Me-Down Covered Bridge (NRHP listed; 1877) (located adjacent to Cornish-Plainfield town line); Blacksmith Shop (Kenyon) Bridge (1882); Dingleton Hill Bridge (1882)
Campton	Blair Bridge (1870); Bump Bridge (1972); Turkey Jim’s Bridge (1958/2013)
Conway	Saco River Covered Bridge (1890); Swift River Covered Bridge (1869); Stoney Morrell Bridge (1999)
Newport	Corbin Covered Bridge (NRHP listed; 1845/1993); Pier Bridge (1907); Wright’s Bridge (NRHP listed; 1906)
Hopkinton	Historic Contoocook Railroad Covered Bridge (NRHP-listed; 1849–50); Rowell's Covered Bridge (NRHP-listed; 1853)
Langdon	Cold River (McDermott) Bridge (1869); Prentiss Bridge (NRHP listed; 1874)
Warner	Dalton Covered Bridge (1853); Waterloo Covered Bridge (1860)
Bradford	Bement Covered Bridge (NRHP listed; 1854)
Franklin	Sulphite Railroad (Upside-Down Covered) Bridge (1896)
Gilford	Tannery Hill Bridge (1995)
Grantham	Yankee Barn Bridge (1982)
Hudson	Melendy Pond Bridge (1982)
Lebanon	Packard Hill Bridge (1991)
Lyme	Edgell Bridge (1885)
Nashua	Royal Crest Covered Bridge (1970)
Peterborough	Teixeira Park Bridge (1965)
Plainfield	Meriden (Mill Bridge) (1880)
Randolph	Nepalese Bridge (1968)
Tamworth	Chocorua Ski & Beach Bridge (1992)
Winchester	Coombs Covered Bridge (NRHP listed; 1843)

Eight Highlighted Covered Bridges

The Cornish–Windsor Bridge is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States, linking Cornish, NH, and Windsor, VT, since 1866.

Cornish–Windsor Bridge (Cornish)

Built in 1866, this 449-foot bridge spans the Connecticut River between Cornish, NH, and Windsor, VT, and is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States. Its scale and craftsmanship have made it a regional icon and one of the most photographed covered bridges in New England.

Originally built in 1845 and rebuilt in 1993, Corbin Bridge is one of Sullivan County’s most iconic and scenic landmarks.

Corbin Bridge (Newport)

Originally built in 1845 and reconstructed after a fire in 1993, Corbin Bridge is a graceful single-span lattice truss bridge open to vehicles. Set against a backdrop of forested hills and open fields, it's one of Sullivan County’s most photographed landmarks.

Blair Bridge, built in 1870, spans the Pemigewasset River and remains in active use after careful restoration following 2011 flood damage.

Blair Bridge (Campton)

This 292-foot long truss bridge was built in 1870 and remains open to one-lane traffic. After surviving major flood damage in 2011, it was carefully restored, embodying the town’s commitment to historic preservation and resilience.

Dating to 1853, the Dalton Bridge uses a rare hybrid truss design and remains one of the oldest covered bridges still open to traffic in New Hampshire.

Dalton Covered Bridge (Warner)

Built in 1853, the Dalton Bridge spans the Warner River using a rare combination of king and queen post trusses. Painted a classic red, it remains open to traffic and is one of the oldest covered bridges still in daily use in New Hampshire.

Built in 1869, this restored bridge now serves foot traffic and reflects Langdon’s commitment to preserving its historic infrastructure.

McDermott (Cold River) Bridge (Langdon)

Also known as McDermott Bridge, this single-span covered bridge was built in 1869 and spans the Cold River. Once a vehicular crossing, it was bypassed in 1964 and restored in 2008 after a community-led preservation effort. At 81 feet long and built with a modified Town lattice truss, it stands as one of the few remaining 19th-century covered bridges in the state.

Constructed in 1877 by famed bridgewright James F. Tasker, this multiple kingpost truss bridge spans Blow-Me-Down Brook near the border of Cornish and Plainfield.

Blow-Me-Down Bridge (Cornish)

Built in 1877 by renowned bridgewright James F. Tasker, this single-lane covered bridge spans Blow-Me-Down Brook on Lang Road near the Cornish-Plainfield town line. At 85 feet long, it features a multiple kingpost truss design and rests on natural granite abutments. The bridge was restored in 1980 and 2002 and remains open to vehicle traffic.

A classic Long truss bridge built in 1854, Bement Bridge was fully rehabilitated in 2020–21 and continues to support vehicle traffic.

Bement Covered Bridge (Bradford)

Constructed in 1854, Bement Bridge in Bradford is a 60-foot-long Long truss bridge spanning the Warner River. It remains open to vehicle traffic and underwent a full rehabilitation in 2020–2021 to preserve its structural integrity while maintaining its historical features.

Built in 1869 and bypassed in 1969, the Swift River Bridge is now a pedestrian stop along the scenic Kancamagus Highway.

Swift River Bridge (Conway)

Built between 1869 and 1870, the Swift River Bridge in Conway once carried vehicles across the Swift River until it was bypassed in 1969. Now open to foot traffic only, it serves as a scenic and accessible stop along the Kancamagus Highway, offering visitors a view into 19th-century bridge design.

Building to Last: What Covered Bridges Can Teach Us About Community Power

Covered bridges are more than just rustic landmarks—they’re shared assets, community icons, and in many cases, still-functioning infrastructure. They serve as reminders of a time when communities built for themselves using local labor, shared vision, and durable materials. Like Community Power, they represent what towns can achieve when they take ownership of their future. These bridges weren’t constructed for short-term gain. They were built to endure, to serve, and to connect.

That same spirit drives CPCNH: a focus on local control, community benefit, and long-term resilience. From bridge timbers to transmission lines, our member communities are working together to build infrastructure that’s reliable, equitable, and designed for the common good.

If you're nearby, we invite you to stop by our Concord office at 100 N. Main Street and explore The Power of Community—a growing installation celebrating the beauty of the communities that are taking control of their own energy future.