Crossing This 159-Year-Old Bridge In Maryland Is Like Walking Through History
By Beth|Published February 05, 2024
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Beth
Author
A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Charlottesville. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
Maryland is home to a handful of covered bridges, and each of them offers a view into our state’s past. Today’s feature destination is no exception, and it may just be the most beautiful of them all. Built in 1865, the Jericho Covered Bridge can be found in Gunpowder Falls State Park, spanning Little Gunpowder Falls. As you drive through this picturesque Maryland state park, don’t forget to stop by!
When it comes to historic bridges in Maryland, it's hard to beat the charm of the Jericho Covered Bridge near Chase, Maryland.
The bridge was originally commissioned in 1865 by David Lee II, a mill owner in the community of Jericho and Jerusalem who wanted a bridge to connect the cotton mills in Baltimore County with the flour mills and blacksmith shops in Jerusalem.
Just 30 years earlier, Lee's father had built a covered bridge next to the Jerusalem Mill that connected these two counties -- also spanning Little Gunpowder Falls and just a half a mile apart.
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Over the course of the next few years, the bridge saw hard times. Major renovation and rehabilitation efforts were made in 1937 and 1983. Then, in 1980, even more reinforcements were added when the flooring was deemed unsafe for crossings.
Have you ever crossed through Jericho Covered Bridge in Maryland? What did you think? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! For related content, be sure to read about how Jericho Covered Bridge is also considered to be one of the most haunted places in Maryland.