Baker’s Camp Covered Bridge

Baker’s Camp Covered Bridge is a historic structure that carries County Road 650 North over Big Walnut Creek in Putnam County, Indiana.

Baker’s Camp Covered Bridge, also known as Hills Bridge, is a historic structure that carries County Road 650 North over Big Walnut Creek in Putnam County, Indiana.

The earliest documented crossing on Danville-Rockville Road over Big Walnut Creek dates back to the 1870s, named after the nearby Baker’s Camp. ¹ In 1901, Joseph J. Daniels constructed the current covered bridge using the Burr arch truss design. The single-span bridge rests on cut-stone abutments, featuring vertical plank siding and a metal roof.

Joseph J. Daniels, born in Marietta, Ohio, ¹ in 1826, initially worked for his father, an agent for Thomas Long, the inventor of the Long truss. Daniels built his first bridge in Parke County in 1851 before becoming a construction engineer for the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad. He later settled in Rockville, where he established his bridge-building business, frequently employing the Burr arch design. Over his career, Daniels built 60 bridges, with his last completed in 1904.

The Burr arch truss was invented by Connecticut-based engineer Theodore Burr (1771-1822), who patented the design on April 4, 1817. ¹ The system combines a supportive arch with king post trusses to provide added strength and stability.

Danville-Rockville Road was designated as IN State Road 31 in 1919. ^{1 2} In October 1926, the route was incorporated into US Route 36, replacing the state road designation. In 1932, a new roadway alignment was constructed north of Baker’s Camp, bypassing the covered bridge. ¹

Baker’s Camp Covered Bridge underwent rehabilitation in 1989 and again in 2014 when a new metal roof was installed. ¹ The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.