The Locust Creek Covered Bridge is going to be moved from its historic location on Dart Road in Laclede to Pershing State Park.

With less than 24 hours notice to the public, the Missouri Department of Natural made an announcement on Dec. 23 that the Locust Creek Covered Bridge would close at noon on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24

A press release from Missouri State parks, said, in part: “Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site will be temporarily closed starting Dec. 24, 2024, to prepare for the bridge’s relocation to Pershing State Park. Locust Creek Covered Bridge currently spans a dry creek bed and is in danger of being damaged beyond repair if actions are not taken due to the instability of the watershed. To preserve one of the last four remaining covered bridges in Missouri, the bridge will be moved to Pershing State Park and be placed over water once again. The move to Pershing State Park, located at 29277 Highway 130 in Laclede, Missouri, is scheduled for the end of January to the first of February, depending on the weather.”

The Locust Creek Covered Bridge was built in 1868 and was built out of white pine using the Howe-truss system, named for William Howe, who patented the design in 1840. The essential features of the design were its use of vertical iron rods to draw the diagonal wooden members tight against the top and bottom of the bridge.

Before World War I, the bridge was once a link over Locust Creek on America’s first transcontinental road, Route 8. Cars gradually replaced horse-drawn wagons and buggies, and in 1930, U.S. Highway 36 replaced Route 8, and Locust Creek Covered Bridge would no longer house a transcontinental road.

“The road across Locust Creek Covered Bridge is not the only thing missing. Most of Locust Creek’s channel was straightened following World War II, leaving the bridge spanning a dry creek bed,” the press release continued.

The bridge will be located in Pershing State Park, located at 29277 Highway 130 in Laclede.