Oregon is a land of immense natural beauty. We're known for our impressive beaches, forests, flowers, and rivers. But Oregon is also home to many amazing man-made wonders as well. One especially cool example is the Siuslaw River Bridge in Florence, Oregon.
Built in 1936, the Siuslaw River Bridge spans the Siuslaw River. It has a steel draw span with reinforced concrete. This gorgeous bridge can be seen from Florence's historic old town and is a big draw for tourists.
It is definitely worth a trip to see this beautiful structure for yourself!
This bridge is a bascule bridge, which means that part of the bridge can be raised to allow for river traffic to pass underneath it.
Its total length is 1,568 feet. The project cost $527,000 to complete, which is over 11 million in today's dollars.
Cars drive across the bridge, which is on U.S. Route 101 in Florence, Oregon.
The Siuslaw River Bridge is impressive from every angle.
When the 140-foot raisable section is elevated, there is 110 feet of clearance available for boat traffic.
I love all the Art Deco details on this bridge, as well as the look of the arches when seen from underneath.
The obelisks house the bridge's mechanical equipment and provide a place for the bridge operator to live.
Siuslaw River Bridge was designed by American civil engineer Conde Balcom McCullough, who worked on many of Oregon's coastal bridges.
McCullough, who was born in Redfield, South Dakota, moved to Oregon to work for the Oregon Department of Transportation from 1919 to 1946.
Walk along the path by the river to enjoy multiple views of this cool bridge.
Florence's historic old town is also worth exploring.
For more information about this Oregon hidden gem and the historic town of Florence, visit the Eugene, Cascades, and Coast Florence website.
If your visit to this coastal small town includes a drive, you may want to stock up on car-friendly snacks and/or have a meal at one of the cute restaurants in town. A few spots to eat include The Firehouse Restaurant & Lounge, 1285 Restobar, and Bridgewater Ocean Fresh Fish House & Zebra Bar.
We'd love to know how you enjoyed your trip to see the bridge, so please leave a comment. Also, feel free to share your favorite man-made structures in Oregon that we should check out next.
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