Madison County Covered Bridges

Explore the history and romance of the famous Bridges of Madison County. Six bridges are scattered across the countryside and five are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sites of legendary love stories; even before the novelist Robert Waller and Hollywood romanticized them. Tours available by arrangement at Visitor's Center. Madison County is the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa, with the largest group of covered bridges that exists in one area in the western half of the Mississippi Valley. Six of the original nineteen covered bridges of Madison County remain, five of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t forget your camera! Stop by our Welcome Center at 73 Jefferson Street in Winterset for a map and brochure about visiting the Covered Bridges. Join us as we celebrate our history, our heritage, and our world-famous covered bridges at the 47th Annual Madison County Covered Bridge Festival! Come out to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors, delight in continuous entertainment on two stages, share in the crafts, food, and activities, watch old-fashioned demonstrators teach their trades, browse through the annual car and quilt shows, meet cowboys from the wild west, take in an old-fashioned spelling bee, tour the grand 1876 courthouse, and experience old-fashioned family fun! There’s something for everyone at the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival. Don’t miss it!