Winterset in Madison County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870

Photographed By Thomas Onions, September 19, 2009

1. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 Marker

Inscription. Designed and built by Eli Cox.
Length: 79 feet Weight: 40 ton.
Covered timber superstructure, towne lattice truss
with overlay queenpost frame, fastened with round
wooden pins and iron bolts.

Originally located 18 miles N.E. of Winterset,
near Bevington, over North River.
Moved to Winterset City Park in 1970.

Clair Rogers, Macksburg, IA, house mover,
commissioned to move bridge before first
covered bridge festival. Clair gave his time to rebuild
west one-third of structure and re-roof it.

Covered bridges often names for nearby residents
the Cutler and Donahoe families each claimed
"naming rights", thus the bridge's hyphenated name.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Covered Bridges, and the National Register of Historic Places series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 41° 19.861′ N, 94° 0.272′ W. Marker is in Winterset, Iowa, in Madison County. Marker is on South 9th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winterset IA 50273, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Delicious Apple (about 500 feet away, measured

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in a direct line); Winterset Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Winterset World War I Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Birthplace of John Wayne (approx. 0.4 miles away); Madison County Freedom Rock (approx. 0.4 miles away); Winterset Civil War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); 101 North John Wayne Drive (approx. half a mile away); 70, 72, 74 Court Avenue (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winterset.

More about this marker. The marker is north of the east entrance of the bridge. The bridge itself is in the Winterset City Park which is at the end of South 9th Street. Parking is nearby.

Regarding Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870. National Register (76000787) Statement of Significance:

The Cutler-Donahue Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Madison County. Its pitched roof is in the traditional mode of bridge design, inherited from eastern artisans who worked in the early decades of the 19th century. The majority of covered bridges have disappeared over the years, both in

Photographed By Thomas Onions, September 19, 2009

2. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 Marker

Photo of bridge & marker

Iowa and in the U.S. as a whole. Weather, flood, indifference, new styles and methods of construction have all contributed to the loss of these structures. The Cutler-Donahue Covered Bridge, as one of the few remaining covered bridges in Iowa, is an invaluable example of early techniques in bridge construction, now abandoned in favor of more modern designs.

Also see . . .
1. Madison County / Winterset Iowa Chamber of Commerce. Link to the Madison County / Winterset Iowa Chamber of Commerce. (Submitted on October 10, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas.)

2. Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge National Register Nomination Form. (Submitted on November 22, 2023, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By Thomas Onions, September 19, 2009

3. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 Marker

Photo of the bridge.

Photographed By Thomas Onions, September 19, 2009

4. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 Marker

Closeup of Name & Date plaque

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 23, 2014

5. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 Marker

Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, September 23, 2014

6. Cutler - Donahoe Covered Bridge - 1870

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 10, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. This page has been viewed 1,501 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 10, 2009, by Thomas Onions of Olathe, Kansas. 5, 6. submitted on October 22, 2014, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.