8 Undeniable Reasons To Visit The Oldest And Longest Covered Bridge In Illinois
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published April 15, 2019
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Few people know much about the oldest covered bridge in Illinois. Located near Princeton, this historic relic is kept in good shape and totally worth a visit.
History lovers definitely need to check out this charming piece of architecture. Scroll on for more details.
1. Built in 1863, Red Covered Bridge in northern Illinois is the state's oldest covered bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
2. The relic is 149 feet, making it not only the oldest, but also the longest bridge in the state. It is definitely worth your time to go exploring here.
3. This lovely and well-preserved bridge crosses Big Bureau Creek on Route 26 about 1.5 miles north of Princeton, Illinois. This whole area is not far from the bend in the Illinois River and some of the state's best parks.
4. Another reason to visit Illinois' oldest covered bridge is that it is still open to traffic. You can drive right through this thing as many times as you want and see what it looks like inside.
5. A sign above the entrance dictates the rules for passersby. There is apparently a five dollar fine for driving more than a dozen horses, mules, or cattle through the bridge or for taking them through at anything faster than a walk.
