A member-supported volunteer association · Est. 1989 Contact  |  Join or Renew

Heartland Covered Bridge Association

Keeping the roof over our history since 1989
The Hogback Bridge, a red covered bridge spanning the North River in Madison County, Iowa
Hogback Bridge · photo: Teddi Yaeger (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Preserving the covered bridges of the American Midwest

Documenting, restoring, and celebrating these landmarks — one span at a time.

Save the date: Our 37th Annual Bridge Days gathering will be held September 25–27, 2026 in Winterset, Iowa. Registration opens to members in early August. Details here »

Welcome

The Heartland Covered Bridge Association (HCBA) is a small, member-supported nonprofit dedicated to documenting, preserving, and celebrating the historic covered bridges of the American Midwest. Founded in 1989 by a handful of Madison County volunteers, we now count about ninety members across a dozen states — carpenters and county engineers, retired teachers and photographers, and plenty of folks who simply pulled over one afternoon, walked through an old timber span, and never quite got over it.

Fewer than 700 historic covered bridges survive in the United States today, down from an estimated 14,000 at their peak. About 150 of those stand in the states we serve. Our job is to make sure that number stops shrinking.

Bridge Registry

Our volunteer-maintained registry documents every surviving historic covered bridge in our fourteen-state region.

Browse the registry »

Preservation Micro-Grants

Small grants ($500–$2,500) for counties and friends groups tackling repairs, signage, and maintenance.

Learn about grants »

Become a Member

Dues start at just $10 for students. Members receive our quarterly newsletter, The Kingpost.

Join today »