Bridges Of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County

Movie Set

The Bridges of Madison County:
The Movie

The Bridges of Madison County
by Grace Sydney

"It seems right now that all I've ever done in my life is making my way here to you." A nomadic soul learns that an unexpected turn can lead you home in the acclaimed film The Bridges of Madison County, a faithful adaptation of Robert James Waller's popular novel. A heartbreaking tale of a photographer with ties to no one and the duty-bound woman who is given the chance to love freely for the first time, the Clint Eastwood-directed movie reminds us all that once you have been truly loved, you are never alone.

FILMING LOCATIONS

Known as the birthplace of American icon John Wayne,(the home where the movie legend spent his formative years has been converted into a museum which proudly displays such treasured memorabilia as The Duke's eyepatch from True Grit) Winterset, Iowa was the obvious choice to set the stage for the love story between photographer Robert Kincaid and housewife Francesca Johnson.

A close-knit community with a comforting small town atmosphere, you can indulge in life's simple pleasures while visiting the filming locations used in the beloved 1995 movie. Chat with the locals at the Northside Cafe, a cozy eating establishment serving the townspeople since 1876, where Clint Eastwood's character contemplated the possible consequences of his developing feelings, or recreate Robert and Francesca's romantic picnic by a picturesque stone bridge, which can be found at Winterset's City Park. Close by you will find the Cutler-Donahue Covered Bridge whose charm, along with that of the Imes, Hogback, Holliwell and Roseman Covered Bridge, lure thousands of tourists to Madison County (http://www.madisoncounty.com) each year.

Of the nineteen original covered bridges which dot the area, only five remain standing. Famous for gracing the cover of Waller's novel, the demise of the Cedar Covered Bridge www.cedarcoveredbridge.com at the hand of an arsonist in September 2002 felt like a death in the family to the local residents. There are plans to rebuild the structure, and until that day its memory will be kept alive in the hearts of all who attend the Madison County Covered Bridge Festival, a celebration of this region's serene beauty held the second weekend of each October.

The soft rustle of paper greets you as you approach Roseman Bridge--anonymous notes filled with romantic sentiments are often found pinned to the wood at the bridge's entrance, inspired as much by the enchantment of the surroundings as by the book and film. Both the Roseman and Holliwell covered bridges were prominently featured in the movie, and the Roseman Bridge holds such fond memories for fans that many weddings are performed here.

As you meander down a peaceful country road in northeast Madison County, you will find yourself drawn to a two-storey farmhouse with an inviting facade. Francesca's House, abandoned to the mercy of the elements for over three decades, was given a new lease on life when it was chosen to represent the home of the movie's leading lady. The screen door creaks out a welcome as you enter into Francesca's kitchen with its patterened wallpaper, cheerful yellow formica table and small radio, which provided a melody for the lovers first tentative dance. From the iron clawed bathtub, where one of the movie's most intimate scenes took place, to the hope chest where Francesca tucked away the mementos from her secret love, all the movie props are on display. The cinematic memories come flooding back as you stroll through the house, and it is easy to imagine that Francesca has only momentarily stepped away.

Sitting patiently beneath a tree's sheltering branches there is a weathered green pickup, the same which had taken away a piece of Francesca's heart as the only love she had ever known drove away so many years ago. Today it stands guard outside her house, a memorial to a love which neither time nor distance could erase. As you walk down the path back to your own car, take hold of the hand of the one you love and know that "this kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime".

Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) has come to Madison County, Iowa, in order to take pictures of the Roseman and Holliwell covered bridges. He is a professional photographer on assignment to National Geographic magazine in the fall of 1965 and he is lost. Pulling his green pickup into the driveway of a well kept farmhouse, he stops to ask directions. Francesca Johnson (Meryl Streep) is at home, alone, her husband and two children having departed for four days to the Illinois state fair. She has been married for 15 years and the luxury of time to herself is an unusual break from her daily life, as is the courteous stranger approaching her for information.

These are the opening circumstances for an extraordinary story, adapted to the screen by Richard LaGravenese from Robert James Waller's novel, The Bridges of Madison County.

The Covered Bridges of Madison County

Originally boasting 19 covered bridges, five remain today, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridges were covered by order of the County Board of Supervisors to help preserve the large flooring timbers, which were more expensive to replace than the lumber used to cover the bridge sides and roof. Usually, the bridges were named for the resident who lived closest.

Roseman Covered Bridge

Built in 1883 by Benton Jones, it is 107 feet in length and sits in its original location. Roseman was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $152,515. In Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County and the movie of the same name, Roseman is the bridge Robert Kincaid seeks when he stops at Francesca Johnson's for directions; it is also where Francesca leaves her note inviting him to dinner.

Also known as the haunted bridge, Roseman is where two sheriff’s posses trapped a county jail escapee in 1892. Uttering a wild cry, it is said the man rose up straight through the roof of the bridge and disappeared. He was never found, and it was decided that anyone capable of such a feat must be innocent.

Holliwell Covered Bridge

Built in 1880 by Benton Jones, it is the longest covered bridge, measuring 122 feet. It remains in its original site over the Middle River southeast of Winterset. Holliwell was renovated in 1995 at a cost of $225,000. It is featured in The Bridges of Madison County movie.

Cedar Covered Bridge, 1883-2002

Built in 1883 by Benton Jones, Cedar bridge was 76 feet long and was the last bridge open to vehicles. It was built over Cedar Creek north of Winterset on what is now U.S. Highway 169. It was moved to its present location over the same creek in 1921. In Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County, Cedar Bridge is where Francesca Johnson goes to meet Robert Kincaid to help him take photographs. Cedar is also the bridge on the novel’s cover. It was renovated in 1998 at a cost of $128,073.Cedar was destroyed by an arsonist on Sept. 3, 2002. More details can be found here. The bridge will be rebuilt.

Cutler-Donahoe Bridge

Built in 1870 by Eli Cox, it is 79 feet in length and features a pitched roof. It was originally located over the North River near Bevington. It was moved to its present site in Winterset's City Park in 1970.Cutler-Donahoe was renovated in 1997 for $35,538.

Hogback Bridge

Hogback Covered Bridge

Built in 1884 by Benton Jones, it measures 97 feet, and is in its original location in a valley north of Winterset. Hogback gets its name from the limestone ridge which forms the west end of the valley. It was renovated in 1992 at a cost of $118,810.

Imes Bridge

Imes Covered Bridge

The oldest of the remaining covered bridges, Imes was built in 1870 and is 81 feet in length. It was originally located over the Middle River west of Patterson. In 1887 it was moved to a spot over Clinton Creek southwest of Hanley. Imes Bridge was moved again to its present site over a natural ravine just east of St. Charles in 1977. It was renovated in 1997 for a cost of $31,807.

Clint Views the Shot

Directed by Clint Eastwood, produced by Eastwood and Kathleen Kennedy, and associate produced by Tom Rooker and Michael Maurer, it is the visual representation of two people coming to terms with their own lives through each other. The film is a narrative about love and choices and consequence.

"The Bridges of Madison County" was made entirely on location in Madison County, Iowa. A reconstructed farm house provided the key set, with additional sequences shot in the towns of Winterset and Adel, along with the actual Roseman and Holliwell covered bridges. Locations were coordinated with the full cooperation of the Iowa Film Commission, Winterset and Adel Chambers of Commerce, and the Madison County Covered Bridge Preservation Society.

Francesca's House

Located in the northeast corner of the county, the house had been abandoned for over 35 years and was fully restored for the film. The house is open to the public daily May to October (an admission fee is charged).

Northisde Cafe

Northside Cafe

In existence since 1876, the Northside is the restaurant in the film where Robert Kincaid stops for coffee and offers Lucy Redfield a stool.

M. Young/Rain Sequence

M. Young and Co.

This feed store building posed as the 'Winterset General Store' in the film. The rain sequence near the end of the movie was filmed on this corner. The structure, built in 1907, was torn down in February 2000.

Texaco Station

A closed Conoco station was transformed into a 1965 Texaco station through Hollywood's magic. It was a popular gift shop for several years, but has now been remodeled to house an Internet service provider and cyber cafe.

Pheasant Run Pub & Grill

Tractor Garage

The Corner Tavern

This tavern was the location for the interior shots of The Blue Note Lounge in the movie (a different building elsewhere in Winterset was used for the exterior shots).

Stone Bridge

The gracefully arched stone bridge in a park where Francesca and Robert go for their 'getaway' picnic is actually located right in Winterset's City Park, just south of the Cutler-Donahoe covered bridge.

Middle River Ford