THE KNIGHTS FERRY COVERED BRIDGE
This web site was originally built in March 2002, after my first visit to the Knights Ferry Covered Bridge. After my great time there I had always wanted to revisit it. Well, it took me 5 years but I revisited the bridge on February 2, 2007, on a drive to Yosemite National Park.
This time my wife came with me and she was just as impressed with it as I had been. It is still very well preserved and has not deteriorated in any way. Here is a photo of she and I at the bridge. Also is a photo of the East side of the bridge.
I encourage any lover of covered bridges to visit this great bridge. It's in a lovely area and is a wonderful way to spend a sunny day.
My original comments and photos from my first visit follow:
The southern portal to the bridge. February 27, 2002.
The unique thing about this covered bridge is that it is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi River. Obviously, its 330 foot length also makes it the longest in California!
The bridge is located along Highway 108 between Oakdale and Sonora. The trip from Oakdale is very rural with farms along the side of the road but as you get farther East you find yourself in beautiful, green, rolling hills with the Stanislaus River running along the North side of the road.
I had come down from Sonora on this Thursday afternoon trip. The bridge is located 25 miles West of Sonora and you travel through some very unique and beautiful buttes and mesas on the way. They are very reminiscent of the Table Mountain area in Butte County.
The Western side of the bridge.
The area had been the site of a town, prior to 1842, when a great flood had inundated the area. A Modesto resident of the time had stated that the "mills and everything had been clean swept away".
In 1848 the ferry had been built by Dr. William Knight and a partner, James Valentine. But tragedy had struck in 1849 when Dr.Knight had been killed during an argument.
Construction of the first bridge on the site had began in 1857 but the bridge was destroyed by a flood that rose to 35 feet above flood stage. The bridge itself had not been affected by the flood but upstream the Two Mile Bridge had broken loose from its foundations and had struck the bridge at Knights Ferry and had destroyed it. During this time the bridge, the mill and the town had been inundated by the great storm.
In May 1864 the present bridge was completed. The builders used fir, pine and oak in their construction.
In 1871 the center of government for Stanislaus County was shifted from Knights Ferry to Modesto - a less appealing site in my opinion. However it did result in preserving Knights Ferry as a pristine area.
The power plant had been in operation for many years but it ceased operation in 1920.
The Bridge had been in private operation until the County took control on November 12, 1884.
Over the years there have been some improvements made on the bridge. In 1884 the roof was replaced and in 1918 the deck of the bridge was repaired.
Then on June 2, 1981 the bridge was closed to vehicle traffic.
I agreed that you could certainly hear the waterfalls easier than you could see them. We all agreed that we were very lucky to see the bridge on such a lovely day. I could tell that these folks really appreciated the history and the beauty of the Covered Bridge. I took the time to tell them that I had established a Historic Bridge Web Site of bridges in Butte, Nevada and Yuba Counties and that I appreciated their love of covered and historic bridges. I also told them that I had made a special trip to see the "Longest Covered Bridge in California" that day.
I also observed that the area is well maintained and has a great area for picnicking and swimming.
My photographs were taken with a digital camera and I think turned out very well.
I made quite an effort to take photos of the most interesting angles of the bridge and of the powerhouse. It involved a fascinating trek along both sides of the bridge, around the powerhouse/mill and across the bridge itself, several times. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them.
Check out my other web sites at:
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The Web Site List includes the HISTORIC BRIDGES IN BUTTE, NEVADA AND SUTTER COUNTIES Web Site.
THIS IS A "LARRY" WEB PAGE".
LARRY MATTHEWS at
This page has been visited by Covered Bridge Lovers
This web site was built March 1, 2002. This web site was last modified February 19, 2007.
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