Oprah Comes to Iowa: Iowa Time Machine May 21, 1993

On May 21, 1993, Iowa’s Winterset became the spotlight of national television when Oprah Winfrey brought her show to the iconic Cedar Covered Bridge. Inspired by Robert James Waller’s bestselling novel The Bridges of Madison County, Oprah broadcast live from the scenic bridge and its surrounding park, calling the book “one of the most romantic, stirring tales of true love” she had ever read. 

Oprah’s heartfelt endorsement helped catapult the novel’s popularity, drawing millions of viewers into the quiet charm of Madison County’s covered bridges. The Cedar Bridge, built in 1883 and a centerpiece of Winterset’s historic covered bridges, provided the perfect backdrop for Oprah’s show. Known for its distinctive red and white wooden structure, the bridge had long been a symbol of local pride and engineering ingenuity. 

Oprah’s visit not only celebrated the novel but also put Winterset’s bridges on the map as a must-see destination, sparking a surge of tourism that continues today. Oprah’s episode featured author Robert James Waller and shared the story's emotional depth, which had already sold millions of copies nationwide.

The broadcast helped the book reach even greater heights, boosting sales by hundreds of thousands and inspiring a major Hollywood film adaptation starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep just two years later. Today, the bridges remain a beloved cultural icon, drawing visitors from around the world to experience the romance and history Oprah helped illuminate. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar