Thompson Mill Covered Bridge is a covered bridge which crosses the Kaskaskia River 2 miles northeast of Cowden, Illinois. The 160-foot-4-inch Howe truss bridge is only 10 feet 7 inches wide, making it the narrowest covered bridge in Illinois.
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A bit out of the way but how far is too far out of the way to visit a covered bridge? This one is northwest of Cowden and hopefully, Yelp leaves the pin where I have placed it.
No longer an active bridge as it's been replaced by a boring concrete bridge with no pizazz or fanciness. There is a marker on the bridge that provides some context and history. It reads, "The road on which this bridge is located was once an important route between Springfield and Effingham. The bridge was completed in the Autumn of 1868 at a cost of $2,500 and named for the owner of the first mill near here. It is the narrowest of all the covered bridges in Illinois, with a width of only 10 feet 7 inches. It is 11 feet 4 inches high and the siding stops before reaching the top cord to allow light to come in under the roof. The Howe Truss system, which the bridge uses, consists of panels in which two members cross one diagonal. The truss of this bridge is 105 feet long. The roof of the bridge protected the truss from the weather." It points out that the marker was erected by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Historical Society in 1972.
The north side of the bridge has a parking area that was easy to access. The bridge itself is in fair condition, covered in graffiti and the area is...
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This is a beautiful bridge out in the middle of nowhere, and seeing it was well worth the drive. The bridge was constructed in 1868, in Michigan, shipped to Shelbyville, and hauled to the river crossing by horse-drawn wagons. It's a fascinating piece of Illinois history, as it was once part of an important link between Springfield, Taylorville, and Effingham. There's no adjoining park, which was a bit disappointing, but it was still an enjoyable stop. If you're a covered bridge enthusiast, as I am, you'll definitely want to...
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Wish the graffiti was cleaned up and the lights replaced. Would be a nice place for a picnic if there were tables. They really need to focus on cleaning this place up and making it a place to visit. It's sad that Illinois has let a piece of history go like this. Broken glass on the ground and light pole...
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