EPISODE · Jun 25, 2026 · 27 MIN
June 28, 1863: Burning of the Columbia–Wrightsville Covered Bridge
from Uncharted Lancaster · host Adam Zurn
On June 28, 1863, Lancaster County was saved by fire.The Columbia–Wrightsville Covered Bridge—once the longest covered bridge in the world—spanned the Susquehanna as the only crossing between Harrisburg and Maryland. When Confederate troops reached Wrightsville during the Gettysburg Campaign, Union militia made a desperate decision: burn the bridge rather than let the enemy cross.In just hours, a mile-long wooden tunnel collapsed into the river, stopping the invasion at the water’s edge. If it had stood a little longer, Confederate troops could have marched straight into Lancaster County—and history here might read very differently.The bridge is gone, but its stone piers still stand in the Susquehanna, marking one of Pennsylvania’s most consequential moments.To learn more, visit UnchartedLancaster.com.Learn about other unique people and places like this when you step off the beaten path with Uncharted Lancaster: Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania by Adam Zurn. This one-of-a-kind 239-page guidebook uncovers 56 fascinating sites, from the county’s very own fountain of youth to the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the western hemisphere. Order your copy here.
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On June 28, 1863, Lancaster County was saved by fire. The Columbia–Wrightsville Covered Bridge—once the longest covered bridge in the world—spanned the Susquehanna as the only crossing between Harrisburg and Maryland. When Confederate troops reached Wrightsville during the Gettysburg Campaign, Union militia made a desperate decision: burn the bridge rather than let the enemy cross. In just hours, a mile-long wooden tunnel collapsed into the river, stopping the invasion at the water’s edge. If...
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June 28, 1863: Burning of the Columbia–Wrightsville Covered Bridge
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