Did You Know? Fun Facts from the Show

We thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts compiled by the tour of The Bridges of Madison County.

• In showbiz, a triple threat is a performer who can sing, dance and act. The Bridges of Madison County could be considered a triple threat because it has been a novel, a movie and a musical!
• In the mid-1880s, counties in the Midwest began to improve rural roads and install bridges. Most often the bridges were built using timber. It was soon realized that timber bridges would deteriorate rapidly if left exposed to the elements, so it was deemed much cheaper to cover the bridges than to repair them.
• Madison County, Iowa, located southwest of Des Moines, once boasted 19 covered bridges. Only six remain today, five of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Roseman Bridge is featured in this love story.
• The bridges of Madison County are the No. 1 make-out spot in Iowa, according to the website roadtrippers.com.
• After the success of the novel and movie, National Geographic Society headquarters began receiving requests for copies of the May 1966 issue that, in the movie, contained the photos taken by Robert Kincaid. In reality, the magazine’s May 1966 cover photo was of the Golden Gate Bridge. National Geographic decided to embrace fans’ enthusiasm by including a copy of the “Robert Kincaid” cover in its museum.

The Bridges of Madison County is set in 1965 in rural Iowa. Below are a few things to consider from that era.

• Average prices:
  • New house: $13,600
  • Average annual income: $6,450
  • New car: $2,650
  • Gallon of gas: 31 cents
  • Loaf of bread: 21 cents
• Radio hits:
  • “I Got You Babe”- Sonny and Cher
  • “Satisfaction”- The Rolling Stones
  • “Stop in the Name of Love”- The Supremes
• News headlines:
  • Willie Stevenson Glanton of Polk County and James H. Jackson of Black Hawk County were the first African-Americans to be sworn and seated in the Iowa Legislature.
  • President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  • The first American combat troops arrived in Da Nang, South Vietnam.