Fallasburg Covered Bridge

Fallasburg Covered Bridge - Michigan

Built in 1871 by Jared N. Bresee for $1500, the Fallasburg Covered Bridge is a 100-foot-long Howe truss design covered bridge that crosses the Flat River in the historic village of Fallasburg, Michigan, just north of Lowell in Kent County. The bridge is 14 feet wide and 12 feet high. The Fallasburg Covered Bridge is one of just six covered bridges remaining in Michigan, the oldest covered bridge that sits on its original site, and one of only three covered bridges in the state that is open to traffic. One of the other covered bridges in Michigan that is open to traffic is the Whites Covered Bridge, located just a few miles north along the Flat River.

Signs at each portal provide caution of a $5 fine for riding or driving faster than a walk, which is typical of covered bridges of a certain vintage. Repairs throughout the years have allowed the covered bridge to remain open to vehicular traffic and even surmount damage caused in 2013 when a heavy truck drove over the bridge despite exceeding the three-ton load limit. Due to its historic nature, the Fallasburg Covered Bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register of Historic Places on February 12, 1959, and the National Register on March 16, 1972.

The Fallasburg Covered Bridge is located within Fallasburg Park, and not far from the bridge is the Fallasburg Historic District, which was designated as a Historical District with the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Fallasburg Village was founded during the 1830s by John Wesley Fallass, and there is a Fallasburg Village which is now a historic district. This includes twenty acres along the banks of the Flat River, the covered bridge, schoolhouse, cemetery, the Fallas House and Misner House museums, and the Orlin Douglass/Tower Farm.

The Flat River is peaceful and seemed to live up to its name when I visited.

Bridge portal and a sign mentioning a $5 fine for driving across the bridge faster than a walk. I wonder if those fines would still be charged today, or if the signs are there for its historical nature.

This seems to be a nice spot to have a picnic or go fishing.

The Fallasburg Covered Bridge meshes well with its natural surroundings on this spring morning.

Time to drive across the bridge and go to my next destination.

How to Get There:

Sources and Links:
Pure Michigan - Fallasburg Covered Bridge, Pioneer Village & School
Fallasburg Historical Society - Welcome to Fallasburg
Kent County Road Commission - Kent County Road Commission Blog
DaleJTravis.com - Michigan Covered Bridges List

Comments

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California. Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada. The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926. Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938. A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947. Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association. Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe. Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the September 1950 California Highways & Public Works during its Centennial Edition. The or...

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush. The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway. In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50. The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County. That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848. During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties. From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort. Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through. The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70. Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains. When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate. The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking. At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap. NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south. This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40. The Centra...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog