IHTIA is again "uncovering the covered bridge."

This year IHTIA begins another project focusing on that great symbol of nineteenth-century craftsmanship and pastoral values–the covered bridge. In years past, IHTIA director Dr. Emory Kemp has played a leadership role both in historical studies and in preservation and rehabilitation projects focusing on covered bridges. His work in restoring West Virginia’s Philippi Covered Bridge in 1989 paved the way for the founding of IHTIA; subsequent rehabilitation projects have included the Barrackville and Milton covered bridges. In addition, Dr. Kemp was featured in IHTIA’s video production, "Uncovering the Covered Bridge."

IHTIA is undertaking a new covered bridge project through a substantial grant award from the Federal Highways Administration. The goal is to produce an educational guide on the history of covered bridges in the United States. The guide will stimulate students to understand the basic "nuts and bolts" engineering aspects of covered bridges, and also place them in the context of transportation history and the overall development of U.S. bridge design. By portraying current covered bridge restoration projects around the country, the guide also will help students understand the basic philosophy and techniques of restoration and preservation. The guide will be geared for use in American and state history, math, and science curricula on three separate levels: K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The main component will be a book, but it will also include a companion computer-based program available on CD-ROM which will provide a three-dimensional model for students to manipulate in mock construction and rehabilitation projects.

Joining Dr. Kemp as co-principal director on the project is Dr. Michael E. Workman. Other IHTIA staff involved in the project are Michael Caplinger, Larry Sypolt, Paul Boxley, Meredith Pearce, Pam Otto, and Andrew Kandray, as well as WVU Constructed Facilities Center (CFC) Director Hota Ganga Rao. IHTIA is partnering with Dr. Ganga Rao and the CFC in a related FHWA project that describes and illustrates the various methods of strengthening covered bridges, taking into account the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.

IHTIA is seeking information from State Historic Preservation Offices, covered bridge societies, and other organizations about covered bridges, particularly ongoing restoration projects. Those interested in providing information, or in learning more about our project, should contact Michael Workman at IHTIA by phone (304) 293-4633 or e-mail.