A transplant from northwestern Connecticut, Theodore Burr moved to Oxford, New York in 1792-1793. In less than thirty years, he erected timber bridges over major rivers-the Hudson, Schoharie, Mohawk, Delaware, Potomac, and Susquehanna rivers-in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, District of Columbia, and Maryland.

In addition to being the first full study of the most prominent timber bridge builder-Theodore Burr-that links him to other bridge builders, this book narrates the significant role of covered timber bridges and associated turnpikes in the westward expansion of the new nation, a subject never before written about. The book should help refocus scholarship on advances in transportation infrastructure during one of the most important periods in American history-the early 19th century.

Based on archival research with newly discovered primary source materials, the book is richly illustrated more than 200 lithographs, paintings, and both historic and modern photographs, most of which have never been published before.