Covered Bridges of Oregon is one of the multiple historic attractions you can encounter in this beautiful state. With a total of 51 covered bridges throughout the state, Oregon has more of those landmarks of human ingenuity than any other state west of Mississippi!
The reason for the bridge being covered is simple, wet Oregon weather and heavy rain season! With wooden bridges being vulnerable to elements, especially moisture, engineers of the time came up with a simple yet fantastic idea - build the roof for a bridge!
The majority of covered bridges were built in Oregon between 1905 and 1925 with a total number peaking at 450. Elements of damage, fire, decommission, abandonment, etc lead to only 56 of those bridges remaining by 1977. Nowadays, the remaining 51 bridges were placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places to preserve the heritage and history for generations to come.
Covered bridges of Oregon vary by the design features, length (the longest Oregon covered bridge is Office Bridge at 180 ft long), etc, but expect to see a Truss design with most bridges being Howe Truss. There are some exceptions like Rock O' the Range Bridge being a King Post Truss bridge.
Once steel and concrete became more common for bridge construction, the covered bridge design became obsolete. However, plenty of covered bridges in Oregon are not only the historical attraction, they are fully functional engineering constructions with plenty of traffic going across every day!
Salem, Silverton, Albany, Monmouth, Corvallis
The last covered bridge in Oregon to serve on a state highway....
One of six historic bridges on Covered Bridge Tour Route...
A part of scenic Covered Bridges Tour Route...
One of few historic covered bridges near Scio...
The original Stayton-Jordan Bridge burned down in 1994...
The longest and newest covered bridge in Linn County...
A historic wooden structure over Crabtree Creek...
A part of a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail on the OSU campus...
Spans the Marys River a few miles away from Corvallis...
Sweet Home, Eugene - Willamette Valley
The bridge was featured in the 1976 movie "The Flood"...
Notable for using two of the longest timbers in Oregon's covered bridge history...
The widest covered bridge in Oregon...
The only covered bridge left over the South Santiam River...
A historic 90-foot bridge over Fall Creek...
The longest covered bridge in Oregon...
Southern Oregon - Cottage Grove, Roseburg
The the only bridge in Oregon painted with two colors...
The bridge is made with the oldest timbers in the state...
The bridge was never listed in the National Register of Historic Places...
One of the shortest covered bridges in Oregon...
The newest of all other Oregon historic covered bridges..
The bridge was the reason for armed conflict...
The bridge was moved from Horse Creek to the current spot...
Southern Oregon - Grant Pass, Medford
The sole remaining covered bridge in the county...
The oldest and shortest covered bridge...
A pedestrian bridge in Eagle Point...
The oldest covered bridge remaining at its original location...
Oregon Coast & Coast Range
The oldest of the remaining covered bridges in Oregon...
The bridge features its slanted floorboards...
The bridge was once a thriving railroad village...
This is the only covered bridge in Coos County...
Nelson Mountain Covered Bridge
One of the longest upper and lower truss chords...
Lane County minted coins commemorating the bridge...
Central Oregon
Rock O' the Range Covered Bridge
The only covered bridge located east of the Oregon Cascades...
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