Go, Do, See
Bridges of Madison Cty.
The six covered bridges which remain in Madison County, Iowa, were made famous by the 1995 Clint Eastwood movie The Bridges of Madison County. The romantic drama is based on the book by the same name produced and directed by Eastwood. An Italian war bride, Francesca Johnson, lives with her husband and two children on their Iowa farm. In 1965, she meets National Geographic photojournalist, Robert Kincaid (Eastwood) who arrives in Madison County to photograph its historic covered bridges. They have a four-day love affair that forever changes them. The film earned $182 million worldwide and was
well received by critics. Madison County is a real district of Iowa (it’s the birthplace of John Wayne). You’ll find the bridges in the area of Winterset, the town Francesca Johnson visits to buy her new frock. Winterset is about 30 miles southwest of Des Moines, on I-169. The unique bridges were covered by order of the county, using cheap lumber to protect the expensive flooring timbers. Of the original 19, which were named for the closest resident, only six remain. The bridges seen in the movie are are the Roseman Bridge, built in 1883, which Kincaid (Eastwood) is trying to find when he calls on Francesca’s farmhouse. The Holliwell Bridge over Middle River is where
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they meet after the visit to the town. Francesca’s farmhouse was an abandoned ruin in the northeast of the county, renovated for the movie. It’s been kept as a tourist attraction, open from May to October (admission charge). The cafe is the Northside Cafe, 61 West Jefferson Street, Winterset. The stone bridge, where Francesca and Robert enjoy a picnic getaway, is in Winterset’s City Park, just south of the Cutler-Donahue covered bridge. The river crossing, where Francesca’s children discuss her diaries, is Pammel State Park.
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