Covered Bridges In Oregon
In 1925, there were approximately 450 covered bridges in Oregon. By 1977, the number of covered bridges had dwindled to 56 structures. Since 1979, four bridges have been lost due to floods and displacements. Today, there are more than 50 publicly accessible covered bridges.
Sources
Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon by Dwight A. Smith, James B. Norman, Pieter T Dykman, 1985, Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon’s Historic Bridge Field Guide, Rebecca Burrow, Chris Bell, Chris Leedham, 2013, Oregon Department of Transportation
Image - Weddle
THE QUEST
In January of 2020, I set out a mission to photograph all of the covered bridges in Oregon. Originally, it was an achievable goal. It quickly became a passion. In August of 2020, Oregon experienced destructive wildfires. One of my favorite bridges, Hannah, was close to the fires. I worried that I may have captured one of the last images of Hannah. Covered bridges are at risk for natural events such as fires, but also arson or damage. In December of 2022, a vehicle towing a backhoe damaged a bridge in Connecticut.
In 1925, there were approximately 450 covered bridges in Oregon. Today, there are more than 50 publicly accessible covered bridges. Each bridge tells a story of their community. They are considered the faithful neighbor that always has a cup of sugar to spare.
Rebekah Willhite Photography
Top - Lowell Covered Bridge
Images (left to right) - Hannah, Short and Harris