Gallon House Bridge - Oregon's Oldest Operational Covered Bridge!

The Gallon House Bridge carries Gallon House Road over Abiqua Creek near Silverton. This is the last of Marion County's original covered bridges and one of the oldest in Oregon. In fact, this is the oldest operational bridge in the state and is still open to traffic.

The 84-foot (25.6 m) Howe truss bridge has a single single-span design with a wooden deck and a metal roof. Narrow slit windows along the entire length of the roof provide ventilation and some light. The bridge is painted white, a classical color for Oregon covered bridges.

Gallon House Bridge History

The Bootleggers Bridge

The bridge was built in 1916 for $1,310 ($38,000 in today's dollars). The Gallon House Bridge derives its name from its role during the Prohibition era. When the bridge was built, Silverton was a "dry" town, prohibiting the sale of alcohol, while nearby Mt. Angel was "wet."

Bootleggers took advantage of the bridge's location, using it as a "liquor drop." They sold "white lightning" whiskey by the gallon from a small shack - a "gallon house" - on the Mt. Angel side of the bridge to thirsty Silverton residents.

Surviving the Floods and the Years

The Gallon House Bridge has faced its share of challenges over the years. During the devastating Christmas Flood of 1964, the bridge was swept off its footings and severely damaged. However, it was fully restored as Marion County's only covered bridge at the time.

In 1985, the bridge was closed because of a damaged chord. County road crews restored it to accept vehicles up to a 10-ton. They reinforced a lower chord, made repairs to the beams and flooring, and even modified the size and shape of the portals to accept taller loads.

A Mint Condition Restoration

By 1990, the Gallon House Bridge, despite previous repairs, was in poor structural condition because of age, use, and previous damage. So, the county restored it entirely and removed the hinged portals.

The Gallon House Bridge is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places (1979) and the Historic American Engineering Record. It has been featured in various publications and travel guides as having one of the most unique stories among Oregon's covered bridges.