Crossing This 140-Year-Old Bridge In Ohio Is Like Walking Through History
By Sarah McCosham|Published February 07, 2024
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
There’s something undeniably compelling and charming about a historic bridge. Whether it’s an old covered bridge or a new pedestrian walkway, these man-made marvels not only connect two (often disparate) places, they also remind us of the power of human ingenuity and imagination. There are some really remarkable bridges in Ohio, but none quite like the historic Zoar Iron Bridge. Impressive and accessible, crossing this 140-year-old bridge in Ohio truly is like walking through history.
The perspective from a bridge is unparalleled. Whether you're standing above the mighty Ohio River on the Purple People Bridge or crossing the petite Rock Mill Covered Bridge over the Hocking River, these architectural marvels aren't simply for seeing; they're for experiencing.
While its design is traditional -- a pin-connected Pratt through truss -- it is a three span continuous bridge, making it an unusual example of this variety.
The bridge was built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company during the heyday of railroad expansion, a time when architects were conjuring up innovative and unprecedented bridge designs. The span replaced a circa-1830 wooden covered bridge that had been built by the Society of Separatists of Zoar to connect the village with the Ohio and Erie Canal.
While the Zoar Iron Bridge was bypassed in 1969 and is no longer operational as originally intended, it's been carefully preserved as a pedestrian and bike crossing.
It was restored by Tuscarawas County commissioners for use as a pedestrian trail between Zoar and the Zoar Valley Trail along the abandoned canal, and was rededicated in 2004.
Today when you visit the Zoar Iron Bridge, you'll likely encounter others enjoying this historic span -- running, walking, biking, or photographing a 140+ year-old-marvel that, in my opinion, doesn't look a day over 130.
Have you crossed this striking bridge in Ohio before? The Zoar Iron Bridge is a commanding sight and wonderful anchor to the past that’s just plain fun to visit, admire, and, of course cross. Learn about this beautiful bridge at the Ohio Department of Transportation website.
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