Smith’s Bridge was originally built in 1839 as a covered, one-lane wooden bridge spanning the Brandywine Creek. On the night before Halloween in 1961, the historic bridge was set ablaze and destroyed by vandals. It was subsequently rebuilt by the Delaware Department of Transportation as an uncovered bridge.
In 2002, Smith’s Bridge was rebuilt once again, this time in the spirit of the original covered bridge. The $1.2 million restoration incorporated new steel beams, a wooden deck and roof, along with repairs to the original piers and abutments. The curved approaches were also smoothed to improve visibility for approaching traffic.
The design was developed with the guidance of a group dedicated to preserving the bridge’s historic character. Their commitment to honoring its past resulted in something increasingly rare: a newly constructed, one-lane covered bridge built in the 21st century.
Today, Smith’s Bridge stands as both a working crossing and a reminder of the region’s history—a beautiful piece of the Brandywine landscape that connects the present with the past.
