Uncovered bridges exhibit opens at museum Saturday

James Cooper

Visitors can discover the bridges of Putnam County inside and out at a new exhibit opening at the Putnam County Museum.

The exhibit -- Uncovered: Bridges of Putnam County -- explores how bridges work, how they move and some non-transportation uses (think graffiti) through photos, video and artifacts.

James L. Cooper of Greencastle will speak about bridges during the opening of Putnam County Museum's newest exhibit -- Uncovered: Bridges of Putnam County. His talk will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 at the museum, located at 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle.

Cooper, an emeritus professor of history at DePauw University, is a widely recognized bridge historian who has written several books about bridges and received the 2011 Heritage Preservation Award from the Washburn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

His books include "Repairing and Restoring Historic Bridges: Keeping Faith With Their Makers"; "Restoring Historic Metal Truss Bridges"; "Iron Monuments to Distant Posterity: Indiana's Metal Bridges 1870-1930" and "Artistry and Ingenuity in Artificial Stone: Indiana's Concrete Bridges 1900-1942."

Anyone with questions may contact the Putnam County Museum at 653-8419.