Newburyport and the History of Covered Bridges

Join us on April 17 to learn about the history of covered bridges, with particular emphasis on Newburyport and New England.  There were once over four thousand covered bridges in the United States, while today, there are less than 900.  Newburyporter Timothy Palmer was one of the first engineers of these structures in America, and was responsible for the first bridge crossing the Merrimack from Spofford Street to Amesbury in 1790.  

Watts’s presentation will address the technology and design of covered bridges, while also appreciating their unique beauty.  As a photographer, he will offer tips on locating covered bridges, share techniques for photographing them, and take the audience on a visual tour of some of the beautiful bridges of New England.

Bob Watts, local resident and photographer, is on a mission to show off the beauty and history of Newburyport.  He is a ten-year board member of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges and has worked for Nikon Cameras for the past 35 years, covering a sales region of MA, RI, ME, NH, VT and Upstate NY.

Program is free and open to the public, though space is limited.  Contact 978-462-2681 or info@newburyhistory.org to reserve your seat.  The museum’s program series is sponsored in part by the Institution for Savings.