The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is a little gem tucked away on a country road in rural North Carolina. If you ever travel across the Tar Heel state you will inevitably find yourself motoring on the I-40. Many of North Carolina’s favorite haunts are just minutes away from the 40, like the Biltmore Estate, the Scallop-Shaped Shell Station in Winston-Salem and Historic Raleigh.
Just a mere 5 minutes south off the I-40 (Exit 138) you’ll find one of only two remaining covered bridges in North Carolina. The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge was commissioned by Catawba County Commissioners in 1894 as a thoroughfare across Lyle’s Creek. The 900’ (274 m) tin roof was installed 7 years later primarily to protect the wood foundation of the bridge. Convenience for travelers was merely an afterthought.
What makes the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge an historic relic and a National Civil Engineering Landmark (2001), is primarily due to its design. It is the only surviving representative of the Improved Lattice Truss, patented by General Herman Haupt, utilizing wood. The irony is the design is now viewed as a faulty construct with flaws that put undue stress on the foundational timbers. Even further, half of the inclined lattices are considered redundant and of no practical use.
Despite its structural failings, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is beautiful to look at and serves as a reminder of how far we have come in the design of bridges. As you approach the bridge there are a few small monuments and several displays highlighting the design concepts and about Herman Haupt. The bridge hovers over the creek below supported by layered large stones and small boulders stacked upon a concrete base on either bank. There is a short path to your left that provides a view of the north facing side of the bridge.
As you enter the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge the first thing you notice, unfortunately, is the plethora of graffiti that covers the wooden planks and lattices. There are multiple layers of support planks along the sides buttressed by large wood “nails”. Looking up, it is equally busy with crisscrossing lattices supporting the inverted v-shaped roof.
Watch your step on the other side of the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge as there is a sharp drop off. To the east there’s a path that runs parallel to the creek that provides a nice view of the south side of the bridge. If you’re adventurous you can make your way down to the sand and even venture close to the underside of the bridge. Be very careful as there is no “path” to speak of and climbing back up the hill can be an adventure.
The entire visit can be made in 15 minutes or longer depending on your level of interest. My visit was in the late winter but the time of year shouldn’t alter your experience of this historic structure much.
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