There has been a covered bridge in the Harrisburg Community of Sevier County since the mid 1800s. The bridge was used by the locals to cross the East Prong of the Little Pigeon River and connected the two separate parts of the community.
Originally, the Harrisburg Covered Bridge was named the McNutts Bridge but in 1875, the bridge was washed away during a storm and was completely destroyed. Later that same year, a Sevier County Court established a committee to oversee the construction of a replacement bridge. $50 was raised privately and $25 was donated by the county. The people of the Harrisburg community donated all of the lumber that was needed and the labor. The people of Harrisburg built the bridge and made sure they would be able to get back and forth to town easily and that they would be able to further grow their part of the county.
While other covered bridges around the country were being torn down, the people of Sevier County kept the Harrisburg Covered Bridge up and going. IN the 1950s, the bridge was renovated, but by the 1970s the bridge had fallen into disrepair and was nearing the end of its life. At this point in the bridges history, the Great Smokies Chapter and the Daughters of the American Revolution raised the money to keep the bridge up and to make sure that it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, you can still go visit the Harrisburg Bridge, take some pictures and drive through a bridge that has been around since 1875. The bridge is 83 feet long, 14 feet wide and has 11-1/2 feet of clearance. A true wonder of not only architecture but also of a people that wanted to keep their history alive. Pencil the Harrisburg Covered Bridge into your next trip to the Smokies. Drive a a little out of the way. Head down Dolly Parton Parkway and follow it to Old State Highway 35. Once you turn left on 35, follow the signs, the bridge is just a few miles down the road. Get out and take some pictures and spend some time in real, living history.