Cedar covered bridge, one of the world-famous Bridges of Madison County, is located in Cedar Bridge County Park about three miles from Winterset, the couny seat. It features grassy expanses and two gathering areas: the Gazebo on the north side of the bridge, and the Jerry Schwartfeger Memorial Courtyard picnic area for slightly larger groups on the south side of the bridge. Restrooms are located in the parking area on the southwest side. For more information or to make reservations, please visit Madison County Parks.

Cedar bridge Gazebo area	The Jerry Schwartfeger Memorial Courtyard picnic area

After nearly 1-1/2 years since Cedar Covered Bridge was attacked by arson, the rebuilt bridge is once again open for vehicles to drive through.

The new Cedar Covered Bridge was officially dedicated again during the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival on Saturday, October 12, 2019. (photo by Kim Davis). Click image for a larger view.

Cedar was destroyed by arson a second time on April 15, 2017.

The remaining structure of the burned bridge was taken down May 3, 2018. Cost to rebuild the bridge this time is $719,663.20. The Madison County Covered Bridge Preservation Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, still welcomes donations to help fund the rebuilding of Cedar Bridge. More information here.

One of the methods to keep costs down on the new bridge was to use a steel structure for the bridge floor, rather than a wooden structure which was used in the previous replica. It closely matched the construction of the original Cedar bridge built in 1883.

Structure on the new Cedar bridge	Structure on the previous Cedar bridge

HISTORY

Cedar (also known as the Casper bridge) was one of 19 original covered bridges built in Madison County. The bridges were covered by order of the County Board of Supervisors to help preserve the large flooring timbers, which were more expensive to replace than the lumber used to cover the bridge sides and roof.

Images courtesy of the Madison County Historical Society

In 1921, Cedar was moved by steam-powered tractor to its present location over the same creek, about 1.3 miles to the east. Cedar is the last covered bridge open to vehicles.

The original Cedar Covered Bridge.

County residents recognized the covered bridges as an important part of their heritage, and began the tradition of a Covered Bridge Festival in 1970. The Festival is always held on the second full weekend in October. As with the other remaining bridges, Cedar was carefully maintained and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was restored in 1998 with meticulous attention to historic detail at a cost of $128,073.

Cedar bridge became world famous in 1992, when it played a prominent role in Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County. In the book, Cedar Bridge is where Francesca Johnson goes to meet Robert Kincaid to help him take photographs. A photograph of Cedar bridge adorns the cover of this world-wide bestseller.

In 1993, Oprah Winfrey broadcast one of her shows from Cedar Bridge. Calling The Bridges of Madison County her “favorite book of the year,” Oprah brought author Robert Waller and her entire crew on location. The wooden stairway built next to the bridge for the show are affectionately known locally as the Oprah steps.