Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Coldwater Covered Bridge - Oxford, Alabama

The oldest covered bridge in Alabama stands less than five minutes off Interstate 20 between Birmingham and Atlanta.

Coldwater Covered Bridge is part of one of the most beautiful city parks in the world, Oxford Lake Park in Oxford, Alabama. Built no later than 1850, and possibly even earlier, the 63' long bridge was built by a former slave to span Coldwater Creek, a rushing mountain stream that flows just south of Oxford and Anniston.

Damaged by fire in 1920, the bridge was repaired and continued to carry traffic over Coldwater Creek until it was eventually replaced by a modern concrete bridge. Allowed to fall into disrepair, it was saved from deterioration in 1990 and relocated about 8 miles to Oxford Lake Park. Beautifully restored, it can now be visited any day for free and even carries a popular walking path across the creek flowing out from the lake.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, Coldwater Covered Bridge is a landmark of Southern history. Read more and see additional photos by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/coldwater.

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