The Philippi Covered Bridge in Barbour County, West Virginia

The Philippi Covered Bridge is the oldest and longest (285 1/2 feet long) covered bridge in West Virginia. It was built in 1852 by Eli and Lemuel Chenoweth and spans the Tygart Valley River. The bridge was originally part of the Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The structure was constructed by Lemuel Chenoweth and was built in the "Long" Burr Arch Truss style. As you can see from the photograph it has two lanes and is one of only a few surviving two-lane covered bridges in the nation. It's certainly unique and the first one that we've documented here on the blog.

According to some of the history that we've located online the covered bridge was used by Union and Confederate Troops during the Civil War and was almost burned down in 1863. Over the years it has undergone numerous renovations to repair and maintain it.

You'll find it located on U.S. 250 at jct. with U.S. 119 in Philippi, West Virginia. It's now part of the Federal Highway System and is still in use today. If you would like to learn more about the bridge and Barbour County we recommend that you visit the Barbour County Historical Museum on 13 Museum Street (right off Main Street) in Philippi.