Why were bridges covered?

To protect the wooden structure from weather

What does a Burr arch truss combine?

A truss with a large wooden arch

Vermont Covered Bridges Quiz: Trusses, Rivers and Fall Color

Vermont has more covered bridges for its size than almost any other state, and this Vermont covered bridges quiz explains why they still stand. Play 10 interactive questions on roof protection, Town lattice and Burr arch trusses, kissing bridges, the Cornish-Windsor bridge, Tropical Storm Irene, Taftsville, Woodstock's Middle Bridge and fall foliage photography.

Start Vermont Covered Bridges Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Roof
Why were bridges covered?
Nickname
What romantic nickname do covered bridges have?
Count
Roughly how many historic covered bridges remain in Vermont?
Lattice
Who patented the lattice truss used in many bridges?
Arch
What does a Burr arch truss combine?
Windsor
Which river does the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge cross?
Record
What distinction is often claimed for the Cornish-Windsor bridge?
Irene
Which 2011 storm damaged or destroyed several covered bridges?
Old
Which Vermont covered bridge dates from 1836?
Season
When do photographers especially seek out covered bridges?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Why were bridges covered?
Answer: To protect the wooden structure from weather
Covered bridges last far longer.
Q2: What romantic nickname do covered bridges have?
Answer: Kissing bridges
Couples could steal a private moment.
Q3: Roughly how many historic covered bridges remain in Vermont?
Answer: About 100
It has one of the highest densities in the US.
Q4: Who patented the lattice truss used in many bridges?
Answer: Ithiel Town
It used crisscrossing planks.
Q5: What does a Burr arch truss combine?
Answer: A truss with a large wooden arch
Theodore Burr developed it.
Q6: Which river does the Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge cross?
Answer: The Connecticut River
It links Vermont and New Hampshire.
Q7: What distinction is often claimed for the Cornish-Windsor bridge?
Answer: Longest two-span covered bridge in the world
It dates from 1866.
Q8: Which 2011 storm damaged or destroyed several covered bridges?
Answer: Tropical Storm Irene
Some were rebuilt.
Q9: Which Vermont covered bridge dates from 1836?
Answer: Taftsville Covered Bridge
It spans the Ottauquechee River.
Q10: When do photographers especially seek out covered bridges?
Answer: During fall foliage
Red bridges contrast with autumn colors.

Vermont Covered Bridges Quiz – Trusses, Rivers and Fall Color

Vermont is famous for its covered bridges, with about 100 historic examples, one of the highest concentrations in the United States. Builders covered them to protect wooden trusses from rain and snow, helping them last for well over a century.

Common designs include the Town lattice truss, patented by Ithiel Town, and the Burr arch truss, which combines a truss with a long wooden arch. Locals nicknamed them kissing bridges.

The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge crosses the Connecticut River to New Hampshire and is often called the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. Tropical Storm Irene damaged several bridges in 2011. The Taftsville bridge dates from 1836, and autumn foliage draws photographers.

What This Quiz Teaches

Travelers and history fans will enjoy these questions.

Why bridges were covered
Which truss designs were used
Which bridges are famous
What damaged some bridges
When to visit

Did You Know?

Many bridges are painted red.
Some still carry car traffic.
Signs once warned riders to walk horses across.
Woodstock's Middle Bridge was built in 1969.
Volunteers help maintain many bridges.