Monday, November 21, 2011
by Galand Haas
A covered bridge is, not surprisingly, a bridge with a cover over it. Covered bridges are typically constructed of wood; however, some of the relatively new covered bridges have been built out of metal or cement, and often have glass windows on their sides.
Initially designed for protection from bad weather, covered bridges have become popular for their vintage beauty and old-fashioned ambiance.
Lane County, Oregon stretches from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Cascade Mountain Range in the east, a distance of about 100 miles. Amid the vast county’s cities and towns, ranches and forestland you will discover twenty of these magnificent structures, which tops all other counties west of the Mississippi River.
While each bridge has its own unique charm, seventeen of the twenty can be found on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places.
Speaking of lists, all twenty of Lane County’s covered bridges are listed below, along with the date they were built. But first, in order to get started on our tour, here are some highlights of two bridges chosen at random:
Wildcat Bridge, Built 1925
Spanning 75 feet over the rushing, bubbling waters of Wildcat Creek, Wildcat Bridge has a sparkling coat of white paint and was constructed with a long, narrow opening on its west end so that drivers can easily spot oncoming traffic.
Wildcat Bridge is reached most easily from Eugene by taking Oregon State Highway 126 about 30 miles west of the city, toward the Pacific Ocean, and following the Whitaker Creek/Clay Creek Recreation Area turnoff to Siuslaw Road. Take Siuslaw Road to Austa Road (approximately 200 feet), travel under the overpass to the bridge.
Wildcat Creek meets up with the Siuslaw River near Wildcat Bridge, and there’s a boat landing on Austa Road that allows fishermen and other boaters easy access to the water.
Goodpasture Bridge, Built 1938
Goodpasture Bridge spans 237 feet over the mighty McKenzie River, which is almost three times the length of Wildcat Bridge.
Named after a family of settlers who put down routes near the present-day hamlet of Vida, Goodpasture Bridge is an architecture lover’s dream come true. It was built with ten Gothic-style louvered windows on both of its sides, as well as false end beams and semi-elliptical portals.
And if you’re in Eugene over the holidays, it’s worth it to take the roughly 30-mile drive to Goodpasture Bridge (off Highway 126 east of Vida) and check out the lights and decorations festooned about the structure.
As promised, here is the complete listing of Lane County’s covered bridges. For much more detailed information, as well as photos and a map, check out Lane County’s electronic Covered Bridge Brochure.
- Belknap Bridge, 1966
- Cannon Street Bridge, 1988
- Centennial Bridge, 1987
- Chambers Bridge, 1925
- Coyote Creek Bridge, 1922
- Currin Bridge, 1925
- Deadwood Bridge, 1932
- Dorena Bridge, 1949
- Earnest Bridge, 1938
- Goodpasture Bridge, 1938
- Lake Creek Bridge, 1945
- Lowell Bridge, 1928
- Mosby Creek Bridge, 1920
- Office Bridge, 1944
- Parvin Bridge, 1921
- Pengra Bridge, 1938
- Stewart Bridge, 1930
- Unity Bridge, 1936
- Wendling Bridge, 1936
- Wildcat Bridge, 1925
