Banks Covered Bridge

About Banks Covered Bridge

Banks Covered Bridge is a beautiful 121-foot Burr Arch truss bridge built in 1889. Unlike most Pennsylvania covered bridges, it is painted completely white both inside and out, making it uniquely beautiful. The bridge crosses Neshannock Creek in a scenic rural part of Lawrence County near the Amish community of Volant.

History of Banks Covered Bridge

Banks Covered Bridge was built in 1889 in Wilmington Township, Lawrence County. The builder is unknown. The bridge was named after James Law Banks, who owned property in the area. Lawrence County never possessed many covered bridges—perhaps only five were ever built in the county—and today only Banks Covered Bridge and McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge remain. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1999 by Lawrence County with engineering by Frank B. Taylor Engineering. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The bridge gained pop culture fame when the surrounding area was used as a filming location for the season four premiere of 'The West Wing' television series, where it doubled as rural Indiana during President Bartlet's reelection campaign.

Architecture and Design

The bridge utilizes a Burr Arch truss design, the most common truss type used for covered bridges in Pennsylvania. At 121 feet long and 15 feet wide, it is a substantial single-lane structure built entirely of wood on stone foundations, now supported by steel girders. The interior walls are similar to those featured on many covered bridges in Bucks County. What makes Banks Covered Bridge distinctive is its all-white paint scheme, both inside and out—a rarity among Pennsylvania's covered bridges, which are typically painted red. The bridge has a height clearance of 8 feet 9 inches and a weight limit of 12 tons.

Visiting Banks Covered Bridge

Banks Covered Bridge is located in northern Lawrence County, northwest of McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge, near the town of New Wilmington and the Amish village of Volant. The bridge carries traffic across Covered Bridge Road, connecting to Gerber Road and State Route 956. There is plenty of parking on both sides of the bridge along both roads. The bridge remains in active use, and it's common to see cars, small trucks, and Amish horse and buggies crossing. The surrounding area is known as Neshannock Falls and is popular for fishing—the special regulations section of Neshannock Creek ends at the bridge. While in the area, visit nearby Kidd's Mill Covered Bridge in Mercer County, the Lawrence County Historical Society Museum, or Big Run Falls in Cascade Park.