Covered bridges in Nebraska bring to mind the sweet old days when the only traffic passing over a bridge was on foot or horse. Nebraska has never been a Madison County, Iowa, with its many ultra-famous covered bridges. We do have a few Nebraska covered bridges though, and what they lack in cinematic value they make up in charm.

1. Coryell Park, Nemaha County
Coryell Park, 73201 633 Ave, Johnson, NE 68378, USA
Walt Daniels
Nestled into this truly beautiful park is a quaint little covered bridge in Nebraska. The park's history is really lovely. Read more about Coreyll Park.

Learn more about Coryell Park in Nemaha County Nebraska, and take a peek at the covered bridge, in this video from Little Zebra Dragons:
2. Duane E. Carman Memorial Bridge, Cook
Walt Daniels
Duane Carman Covered Bridge, 104-312 737 Rd, Cook, NE 68329, USA
Warren White
This bridge was a true labor of love. Born from an excess of town funds and a crazy idea from Duane Carman, the bridge was built using reclaimed materials from old torn-down buildings in the local area. The entire town pitched in to make the idea a reality, and to this day tourists are attracted to the sweet small town and its beautiful covered bridge.
3. Lafayette Park, Gothenburg
Lafayette Park, 315 27th St, Gothenburg, NE 69138, USA
Lafayette Park Campground/Facebook
This lovely footbridge crosses the Gothenburg canal, joining the two sides of the park. While you are in the charming town of Gothenburg, be sure to stop by the Nebraska Barn & Grill for a home cooked meal.
4. The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Kearney
Warren White
Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, 3060 E 1st St, Kearney, NE 68847, USA
Jasperdo/Flickr
Plenty of people claim that the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument isn't a bridge because you can't cross from one side of the interstate and come out the other. However, one can walk through the covered structure as it crosses over a roadway, so we're calling it a bridge. Inside of the enormous structure is a museum to pioneer Nebraska - a must-visit for any history buff.

Let's check out the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument in this video from Russell Lysak:
5. Ginger Cove Development, Valley
Warren White
Walt Daniels
This sweet covered bridge crosses Skinny River in Valley's Ginger Cove housing development.

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6. Koi Lagoon, Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha
Warren White
Warren White
If you happen to be at the Omaha Zoo, head over to the koi lagoon for a trip over a very nice covered footbridge. You can stand on the bridge and feed the koi - the fish go crazy and it's quite the show.
7. The Bridges housing development, Lincoln
Warren White
Warren White
The Bridges, Lincoln, NE, USA
Warren White
This hefty structure is a fine example of a covered bridge. It's part of The Bridges development, a housing area near Lincoln with lakefront homes and several covered bridges crossing the many ponds.
8. The Bridges, Lincoln
Warren White
The Bridges, Lincoln, NE, USA
Warren White
This quaint footbridge in The Bridges crosses over a pond. It looks like the perfect place to go for a peaceful afternoon walk.
9. The Bridges, Lincoln
The Bridges, Lincoln, NE, USA
Warren White
Appropriately enough, this bridge spans a pond called Covered Bridge Pond.

View some old footage introducing The Bridges, a housing development in Nebraska that features a number of cute covered bridges connecting different areas of the community:

 

Since Iowa is well known for its historic covered bridges, it is a bit of a surprise that Nebraska didn’t partake in this iconic bridge-building trend.  Have you discovered any covered bridges in Nebraska? Tell us in the comments!

Yearning for some more Nebraska scenery? Check out the best scenic drives in Nebraska. If you need some transport for this trip check out what RVshare has to offer. (We bet you can guess just by the name…)

 

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Historic and Iconic bridges in Nebraska

Chris Muras | September 03, 2023

Are there covered bridges in Nebraska?

 

Nebraska does not have any historic covered bridges from the 1800s like many states do. However, there are a number of more modern covered bridges that emulate the charm of the old wooden bridges we love so much. Here are a few of the oldest Nebraska covered bridges that were built in the 1900s:

  • Ginger Cove Bridge - 1972
  • Koi Lagoon Bridge, Henry Doorly Zoo - 1970s
  • Gothenburg Bridge - 1984
  • Duane E. Carman Memorial Bridge - 1989
  • Great Platte River Road Archway Monument - 1999

 

What are some famous bridges in Nebraska?

 

Even though Nebraska isn't known for its historic covered bridges, there are some well-known bridges in Nebraska. Here are a few famous bridges in Nebraska:

  • Illinois Central Missouri River Bridge: This iconic bridge, also known as the East Omaha Bridge or the IC Bridge, was a double-swing railroad bridge built in 1893. At the time it was built as a single-swing bridge. It was reconstructed in 1904 and 1908 to allow the bridge to be movable to allow barge traffic to pass through. The bridge was removed from service in 1980 and has been abandoned ever since.
  • Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge: This fantastic 3,000-foot bridge was built in 2008 to allow pedestrians to cross the Missouri River from Nebraska to Iowa. On a windy day, the suspension cables will dance and sing in a slightly nerve-wracking sensation as you cross. Standing on the Nebraska side it is a picturesque sight as the sun sets.
  • Heartbeat Bridge: The gruesome tale of Hatchet House and Heartbeat Bridge are best told on a chilly fall evening under the full moon, but this haunted bridge in Nebraska is creepy no matter what time of year it is. The story goes (cover your eyes if you scare easily) a school teacher brought a hatchet to school one day and decapitated all of her students. She then cut out the hearts and buried them under this bridge. To this day, you can hear the tiny hearts beat as you cross the bridge.

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