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Ackley Covered Bridge

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Ackley Covered Bridge is span currently located in Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan. This span was originally located on Wheeling Creek near West Finnley, Pennsylvania.
Ackley Covered Bridge was constructed in 1832 and is thought to be the oldest remaining multiple kingpost bridge in the United States. The structure was donated to Henry Ford in 1937 when it was in the process of being replaced. The structure was rebuilt at Greenfield Village and dedicated during July 1938.




Part 1; the history of Ackley Covered Bridge

Ackley Covered Bridge is thought to be the oldest surviving example of a multiple kingpost bridge in the United States. The bridge consists of a series of upright wooden posts with inclined braces at either end and which lean towards the center "kingpost."

Ackley Covered Bridge was constructed near West Finley, Pennsylvania at Wheeling Creek along what is now Finley Road. Said creek serves as the Washington/Green County line. The structure was intended to replace an earlier swinging footbridge present at the site. The Ackley Family donated land for construction and over one hundred locals worked to construct the eighty-foot-long structure.

The site of Ackley Covered Bridge (blue dot) can be seen on the 1905 United States Geological Survey map of Rogersville, Pennsylvania.


The roof of the Ackley Covered Bridge was replaced in 1860, 1890 and 1920. During 1937 plans were put in place to construct a concrete highway bridge at Wheeling Creek. West Finley community members petitioned Henry Ford to purchase and relocate the covered bridge to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford sent representatives to survey and photograph the structure as seen below in a 1937 Ford Motor Company Engineering Photographic Department photo.


The dismantling of Ackley Covered Bridge took place during December 1937. The structure was shipped to Greenfield Village and reassembled. The reconstructed bridge was dedicated on July 2, 1938. The dedication ceremony can be seen in a Ford Motor Company Engineering Photographic Department photo.



Part 2; a visit to the Ackley Covered Bridge

Ackley Covered Bridge is presently located in Greenfield Village Historic District Number 7 (Porches & Parlors).


A plaque briefing the history of Ackley Covered Bridge.


Various Model Ts crossing the Ackley Covered Bridge.




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