Crossing Cedar Creek

Announcing "Crossing Cedar Creek"

I have wanted to do a piece of art that included one of the Bridges of Madison County for a long time now. The Cedar Bridge is one of my favorites and something that's been in the back of my mind to do in a scene. So what better than make it an integral part of a holiday winter landscape. A boy and his father coming home after a long day of looking for a Christmas tree. Across the bridge and homeward bound.

The Cedar Bridge was built in 1883 by Benton Jones over the Cedar Creek in Madison County. It was 76 feet long and one of 19 covered bridges in the county. The bridges were covered by order of the County Supervisors to help protect the expensive large flooring timbers. In 1921 the bridge was moved about a mile further down creek and was the last bridge allowed to have vehicles on it.

The bridge was destroyed by an arson fire in the evening of September 3, 2002. A replica of the bridge built according to the original plans and authentic materials and methods was dedicated on October 9, 2004.