While they’re not extinct yet, covered bridges are getting rarer and rarer. Here’s a look into our rural southern past, courtesy of our Digital Collections.

Most of these images are from the Roland McMillan Harper photo collection, but you can click on any of them to access their collection information — as well as a zoomable image — in Acumen.

Are you a covered bridge enthusiast? Some of these are still standing.

This Clarke County, Georgia, bridge is probably the Elder’s Mill Bridge, near Athens.

This bridge is in Sumter County, Alabama. It is likely the Alamuchee or Bellamy Bridge, which has since been moved to other locations in the county. It now sits on the University of West Alabama campus.

This bridge is in Blount County, Alabama. It is probably the Easley/Rosa Bridge.

The bridge in these last two pictures is in Early County, Georgia. It is probably the Coheelee Creek Bridge.