This autumn, I had the opportunity to leave the bustle of Indianapolis for a few days and explore the scenic hills of Indiana. Along the way, I photographed several historic bridges that define the region’s charm.
After wrapping up work in the college town of Bloomington, I headed east into the hills to visit my first destination: the historic Friendship Road Bridge over Stephens Creek. This pinned Pratt through-truss bridge, built in 1898 by the Lafayette Bridge Company, underwent significant rehabilitation in 2002 by CLR Construction of Vincennes. The restoration included reinforcing the end posts and upper chord with steel plates, replacing all floor beams that support the stringer beams and wooden deck, and repairing the original floor beams. This meticulous effort earned the 2003 Indiana Partnership for Highway Quality Achievement Award from the Federal Highway Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation.
As the late autumn evening light quickly faded, I moved on to visit the abandoned Wrightsman Bridge. This pinned Pratt through-truss bridge, built in 1908 by the Pan-American Bridge Company, replaced a ford crossing.
The bridge’s usage dwindled over the decades due to several factors: a decline in the county’s population in the early 20th century, the construction of a modern state route farther south in 1920, and the demolition of many local homesteads when a state park was established in 1935.
Repairs to the Wrightsman Bridge were undertaken in 1979 and 1982, but structural issues caused by soil compression eventually led to its closure to vehicular traffic in 1990. The compression disrupted the vertical alignment of the southern abutment, placing the lower chord under compression instead of tension. Despite this, the bridge reopened in October of the same year for pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian use as part of the Ten O’Clock Treaty Line Trail, connecting Yellowwood State Forest and Brown County State Park.
Nearby, the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge remains one of my favorite covered spans. Its vibrant red color, picturesque forested setting nestled against a hillside, and unique approach angles make it a joy to photograph. Despite the light rain, I managed to capture a few drone shots of this enduring landmark.
As twilight descended, I reflected on the quiet beauty of these historic bridges—some standing as testaments to preservation, others bearing the marks of neglect. Each endures in its own way, and I hope the Wrightsman Bridge, in particular, can one day be restored to support its role as a vital trail link between Yellowwood State Forest and Brown County State Park.
Great photos. Does the friendship road bridge have a posted load limit? Very impressive if they were able to strengthen it to take all legal loads
Ten tons.
Makes sense, and still plenty of capacity for a lot of use!
In the late 1970s, while driving around with some of my high school friends we came upon the Friendship Road Bridge. We stopped, got out and looking at the bridge, said, no, it’s a no go. The bridge truly appeared to be near collapse. I, for one, couldn’t believe it was open to traffic. Seeing your post and pictures, it was a pleasant surprise to discover the bridge still in use, and looking rather spiffy and functional. Wonderful photographs. Thank you.