Swann Covered Bridge - Blount County, Alabama

The longest surviving covered bridge in Alabama presents a spectacular scene as it stretches over the gorge of the Locust Fork of the Warrior River.

Built in 1933 by the uncle and nephew team of Zelmer and Forrest Tidwell, the Swann Covered Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of three surviving covered bridges in Blount County, Alabama.

These beautiful old bridges stand as silent reminders of the days before concrete and steel were commonly used in bridge construction. Because the wood flooring of bridges often deteriorated rapidly due to exposure to the elements such as rain, snow and ice, our ancestors came up with the idea of building covers over bridges to protect the flooring. For many years covered bridges were common on the roads and byways of America, but today most have long since disappeared.

In Alabama, there were once more than 30 covered bridges, but only 11 survive. Sadly, several have been lost in recent years due to vandalism and arson.

Fortunately, the beautiful Swann bridge is among those that survive. More than 300 feet long, it is a three span bridge with the main spain stretching for more than 75 feet over the rushing water of the Locust Fork.

To learn more about this beautiful old bridge, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/swann.