Motoring Monday: Bridges of Cowley County

The Bridges of Madison County may have had a movie named after them, but there are three times as many Bridges of Cowley County in south central Kansas. The 18 stone arch bridges spread across the county have become a popular tourist destination in recent years. These structures, all built before 1920 and many located on the National Register of Historic Places, are located throughout the county.

For a map of the bridges, visit the Cowley County website by clicking here. Or you can contact the Winfield Convention and Tourism office for information on which bridges are easiest to access.

A few facts about stone arch bridges in Kansas –

• There are a total of 165 stone arch bridges in 35 counties

• The longest stone arch bridge (199 feet) is in Cowley County

• The shortest bridge (20.01 feet) is in Ottawa County

• The oldest bridge was built in 1870 in Pottawatomie County

• The last stone arch bridge was built in 1956