Dunn's Bridge Is An Awe-Inspiring And Unique Bridge In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published July 20, 2021
×
Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
If there’s something a little bit strange that Hoosiers are known for, it’s probably our weird love of all things bridges. Indiana is home to 98 historic covered bridges and more than 18,000 bridges in general. Parke County is thought to be the covered bridge capital of the world, and they’ve got the annual festival to celebrate it. We’re also home to a particularly special feat of engineering: Dunn’s Bridge is a unique and rare bridge in Indiana, and boy, are we proud to call it ours!
The exact history of the bridge is disputed, but legend has it that it was built at some point in 1895. Others claim it was built in 1904, but chances are, the 1895 quote is the closest to accurate.
Legend also has it that the bridge is constructed out of bits and pieces of the Ferris wheel from one of the original World's Fairs. That legend is more than likely merely that: a legend. However, there's plenty more about Dunn's Bridge that makes it fascinating anyway.
It's an unusual bridge; in fact, there's only one other one out there like it, and both bridges were built around the same time by the same developers.
Sure, it's not as "interesting" that Dunn's Bridge and her sister bridge (the Sugar Creek Chapel Bridge in Illinois) aren't actually made out of bits of old Ferris wheels, but they are made from bits of other World's Fair buildings.
One thing is for sure: this beautiful steel-through-arch bridge is here to admire for generations to come.
The bridge was renovated in 2003, and said renovation earned Indiana an engineering award for the feat. Today, it's closed to traffic, though folks can still visit on foot.
A favorite pastime of Hoosiers is fishing from the bridge; the Kankakee River is an ample source of fish like crappie, walleye, bass, and bluegill.
The surrounding landscape is beautiful and lush, and when it rains, the river below swells and teems with life. The bridge is a favorite spot for photographers, urban explorers, history lovers, and regular folk just looking for a great place for an afternoon stroll.
The river was designated a National River Trail, and the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
