In 2004, we travelled with our 5th wheel to Washington and Oregon, going as far south as the Dunes area near Florence, Oregon. This would be our first trip to Oregon and Washington, but certainly not our last.
Part of our trip included a visit to some of Oregon’s covered bridges and lighthouses. There are 50 covered bridges in Oregon and 12 lighthouses. Near Cottage Grove, we saw the Mosby Creek Bridge, which is Lane County’s oldest bridge. Built in 1920 for $4,125.00, it was named for pioneer David Mosby who arrived in the area in 1853 and claimed 1,600 acres near Cottage Grove, Oregon.
The Currin Bridge, pictured below, was also named for an early pioneer family in the area and is also known as the Row River Bridge because it crosses the Row River. Built in 1883 by Nels Roney for a total cost $1,935, the bridge was replaced in 1925. County employees re–built it for $4,205 saving taxpayers $2,495 [the lowest outside bid was $6,250].
Design elements for the Currin Bridge include single-piece hand hewn chords, cross-wise planking on the approaches, and a corrugated metal roof.
We also toured lighthouses in both Washington and Oregon. The Yaquina Bay lighthouse located near Newport, Oregon, is pictured below:
From www.lighthousefriends.com: “The story of the lighthouse began in 1871 when Yaquina Bay was a bustling port, the most populated along the West Coast between San Francisco and the Puget Sound. The Lighthouse Board determined there was a need for a lighthouse to guide traffic into the bay and in April 1871, 36 acres were purchased at the north entrance of the bay from Lester and Sophrina Baldwin, original homesteaders, for $500 in gold.”
Newport, Oregon is located on the Central Coast of Oregon and is a charming town, with many attractions including the Oregon Coast Aquarium. It has numerous shops, restaurants, accommodations to suit every budget and taste and miles of sandy beaches.
Yaquina Bay Bridge
This masterpiece and Oregon coast landmark was designed by Conde B. McCullough – one of numerous functional and beautiful bridges he designed in Oregon in the 1920’s and 30’s. The bridge is at the south part of Newport, Oregon on US Highway 101. [www.portlandbridges.com]
For driving directions and maps, visit:
http://discovernewport.com/index.php/about/maps-directions
Covered Bridge statistics from http://www.all-oregon.com/covered_bridges.htm.
Our Hotel On Wheels 