Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
This podcast is the companion to Covered Bridges of New Hampshire by Kim Varney Chandler, the most comprehensive history of New Hampshire’s covered bridges in print. New Hampshire is home to more than 60 authentic covered bridges, 46 of them over a century old. They remain today because a dedicated community recognized their significance and chose to preserve them. On this podcast, Kim speaks with the people connected to these bridges in a variety of ways—engineers, historians, preservationists, town officials, authors, photographers, and community advocates. Together, they explore preservation efforts, restoration projects, community identity, tourism, threats, stewardship, and the evolving role these structures play across the Granite State. Whether you are deeply familiar with covered bridges or simply curious about the stories they carry, this podcast offers thoughtful discussion on all things related to covered bridges in New Hampshire. Recipient of the 2023 Second Place Award for Best Audio Podcast from the New Hampshire Press Association.
Episodes
Kim speaks with David Kruidenier, President of the Cornish Historical Society. David shares what makes Cornish one of New Hampshire's most historically significant towns and explains how its four covered bridges, historic architecture, and deep sense of place reflect the community's rich heritage and ongoing commitment to preservation.
Links from the conversation
Kim talks with George Born, Historic Resources Specialist with the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. George explains how LCHIP supports the protection of significant historic and cultural sites across the state, including several of New Hampshire’s covered bridges.
Links from the conversation
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim talks with Dave Anderson, Senior Director of Education for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Dave discusses the history and setting of the Sentinel Pine Bridge in Flume Gorge, and how it fits within the broader stewardship of Franconia Notch State Park.
Links from the conversation
Kim talks with Bob Watts, co-vice president of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Bob explores the career and innovations of early bridge builder Timothy Palmer, his groundbreaking river crossings, and his role in establishing the covered timber truss tradition in the United States.
Links from the conversation
Kim speaks with Phill Gatenby, who shares how a simple curiosity turned into a personal mission to visit and document all one hundred covered bridges in Vermont. Phill talks about the stories he’s uncovered, the experiences he’s had along Vermont’s back roads, and what he’s learned while filming these historic structures one bridge at a time.
Links from the conversation
Kim talks with Michael Haley Goldman, Executive Director of New Hampshire Humanities. Michael discusses how the organization connects communities through stories and ideas and highlights its statewide speakers bureau, which brings free public programs to communities across New Hampshire.
Links from the conversation
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim speaks with Bill Caswell, longtime President of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Bill discusses the impact and enduring scholarship of Richard Sanders Allen and the publication he launched that continues to connect bridge historians and enthusiasts.
Links from the conversation
Kim speaks with photographer Steve Brown. Steve reflects on a lifetime behind the camera and offers practical guidance for capturing covered bridges—from understanding light and composition to how to work a covered bridge.
Links from the conversation
Steve's Photography on Fine Art America
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim talks with Donna Crane of the Wilton Heritage Commission and Kermit Williams, Chair of the Wilton Selectboard. Donna and Kermit discuss the history and significance of the Old Russell Hill Road Bridge and the community’s efforts to preserve this distinctive Wilton landmark.
Links from the conversation
Photos of the Old Russell Hill Road Bridge
Kim speaks with Will Truax, timber framer, bridgewright, and preservation carpenter. Will discusses his decades of work in timber restoration, his involvement with the Timber Framers Guild, and the Guild’s 2011 covered bridge project in Chester.
Links from the conversation
Photos of the Wason Pond Bridge
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim talks with Mike Kowalczyk, founder and president of the Monadnock Region Rail Trail Collaborative. Mike discusses the rail trail system of Southwestern New Hampshire and why preserving and completing this historic trail network remains vital to the Monadnock Region.
Links from the conversation
Monadnock Rail Trail Collaborative
Trail Link
Greater Monadnock Collaborative
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
C...
Kim speaks with Rick Kfoury, President of the Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society. Rick shares insight into New Hampshire’s remaining covered railroad bridges, the influence of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and the historical context behind these rare surviving structures.
Links from the conversation
Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society
Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society - YouTube Channel
The Covered Bridges of New Hampshire Podcast is back with new stories from across the Granite State. Season 2 drops June 2, 2026!
Recipient of the 2023 Second Place Award for Best Audio Podcast from the New Hampshire Press Association, the series returns with fresh conversations featuring historians, photographers, preservationists, and community advocates who share a passion for covered bridges and New Hampshire history.
Whether you...
Kim talks with Alan Rumrill, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. Alan shares the rich history of the lost bridges of the Monadnock area and why the remaining covered bridges are valued by the community.
Links from the conversation
Historical Society of Cheshire County
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim talks with Warner historian Rebecca Courser about the namesake of the Dalton Bridge. Rebecca shares with us a history of the town of Warner, the Dalton family, and just who exactly the covered bridge was named after.
Links from the conversation
Warner Historical Society
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Photos of the Dalton Bridge
Kim talks with lifelong Swanzey resident Lee Dunham about the namesake of the Thompson covered bridge. Lee walks us through the exciting life of actor and playwright Denman Thompson and his production, The Old Homestead; and how integral the play has been to the town of Swanzey for over a hundred years.
Links from the conversation
The Old Homestead
2016 Article in the Keene Sentinel
Denman Thompson
Kim talks with two women who live on either side of the Columbia Bridge in northern New Hampshire. Columbia, New Hampshire, resident Stacey Campbell and Lemington, Vermont, resident Sharon Ellingwood White, share how the location of the Columbia Bridge has connected their two communities across the Connecticut River for almost two hundred years.
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Kim talks with Kaleigh Paré Shaughnessy, Executive Director of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace, about the namesake of the Whittier Bridge in Ossipee. Kaleigh tells us the story of how a young Massachusetts poet transitioned from a fierce abolitionist to one of America’s most beloved fireside poets, and how his name became attached to a New Hampshire covered bridge.
Links from the conversation
Whittier Bir...
Kim interviews Francis Faulkner, Jr. of Swanzey, about his involvement in fundraising efforts to rebuild the Slate Bridge after it was destroyed by arson in 1993. Francis shares the many layers of funding through the process of town meeting and the community connection to covered bridges in Swanzey.
Links from the conversation
Town of Swanzey
Links for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
Covered Bridges of New Hamp...
Kim interviews Marilyn Stuller of Langdon about her experience leading the fundraising efforts to save Langdon’s two historic covered bridges. Marilyn shares the story of the organic process that took fourteen years to complete and the value of preserving part of the tapestry of the greater Langdon community.
Links from the conversation
Farview Farm
Arnold M. Graton Associates
Town of Langdon
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