Centennial Covered Bridge - Built for the Town’s Centennial

The Centennial Covered Bridge crosses the Coast Fork Willamette River at Main Street and River Road in downtown Cottage Grove. Built in 1987 to celebrate the city’s centennial, this bright white pedestrian bridge is part of Oregon’s rich covered bridge heritage.

The 84-foot (26 m) Howe truss is just 10 ft (3 m) wide and 14 ft (4.3 m) tall, creating a cozy, peaceful walkway. You can stroll through in under a minute and feel surrounded by the town’s bridge history. Light filters through the many side windows, casting warm lines on the beams as the river murmurs below.

After visiting, explore the nearby Applegate Trail Interpretive Center, the Veterans Memorial, and the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge—perfect stops on a Willamette Valley road trip between Eugene and Roseburg..

Centennial Covered Bridge History

Locals built it in 1987 to honor Cottage Grove’s 100th birthday. The community raised money with personalized bricks, a special train ride, and a barbecue. Volunteers did much of the work, and the spirit shows in every timber.

The bridge stands near the site of the old Main Street Bridge, which served the town until the 1950s. At the dedication, a time capsule containing mementos from the 1980s was placed in the entrance. Someday, someone will open it and grin at old tickets, notes, and photos.

Here’s the cool twist: the Centennial is a 3/8‑scale model of the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge, a short stroll away. And it reuses salvaged timbers from two Lane County bridges, Meadows Bridge and Brumbaugh Bridge, both of which were dismantled in 1979. So when you touch the rail, you feel real pieces of the area’s bridge past.

Historic Significance: Built in 1987 for Cottage Grove’s centennial; volunteer‑led; funded by personalized bricks, a train ride, and a community barbecue.

Sustainable Story: Constructed with salvaged timbers from Meadows Bridge and Brumbaugh Bridge (dismantled in 1979), preserving Lane County covered bridge heritage.

Pedestrian‑First Downtown Link: Connects Main St & River Rd to the Applegate Trail Interpretive Center and a Veterans Memorial; perfect start to a self‑guided tour of Cottage Grove’s six covered bridges.

A Gateway to Cottage Grove’s Covered Bridges

Cottage Grove calls itself the Covered Bridge Capital of the West, and this neat downtown span proves it. It’s easy to reach, family‑friendly, and close to coffee, lunch, and street parking. In the early afternoon, the window rows glow; on rainy days, the river hums and the boards smell like fresh wood.

Local memories bring it to life. Folks still talk about buying a brick, riding the fundraiser train, or flipping burgers to pay for bolts and beams. Small steps built a bridge that now welcomes walkers and cyclists every day.