Built c. 1867 Area 8,094 m² Added to NRHP 26 March 1976 | NRHP Reference # 76000912 | |
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Similar Johnson Creek Covered, Walcott Covered Bridge, Ringos Mill Covered Bridge, Bennett's Mill Covered, Goddard Bridge | ||
Cabin creek covered bridge dedication
Spanning 114 feet (35 m), the Cabin Creek Covered Bridge crosses Cabin Creek 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Tollesboro on Kentucky Highway 984 about 12.4 miles from the Lewis-Fleming County line. It is no longer open to vehicular traffic.
The bridge was constructed in 1867 and is one of thirteen remaining in the state. The lack of siding under the eaves creates a clerestory effect along the entire length. Around 1914, Louis Bower reinforced the Burr truss structure by adding an arch on either side, requiring the addition of skew backs where the arch meets the abutments.
A number of reasons have been offered to explain the construction of covered bridges in Kentucky during the 19th century. The protection the cover provided against wood deterioration was likely most important. The cover allowed timbered trusses and braces to season properly and kept water out of the joints, prolonging the life by seven to eight times that of an uncovered bridge.