The Bridge of the Gods is a steel truss

cantilever bridge A cantilever bridge is a bridge built using structures that project horizontally into space, supported on only one end (called cantilevers). For small footbridges, the cantilevers may be simple beams; however, large cantilever bridges designed ...

that spans the Columbia River between

Cascade Locks, Oregon Cascade Locks is a city in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. The city took its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. The U.S. federal government approved the plan for the l ...

, and

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

state near North Bonneville. It is approximately east of

Portland, Oregon Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...

, and 4 miles (6.4 km) upriver from Bonneville Dam. It is a toll bridge operated by the Port of Cascade Locks. The bridge was completed by the Wauna Toll Bridge Company and opened in 1926 at a length of . The higher river levels resulting from the construction of the

Bonneville Dam Bonneville Lock and Dam consists of several run-of-the-river dam structures that together complete a span of the Columbia River between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington at River Mile 146.1. The dam is located east of Portland, Oregon ...

required the bridge to be further elevated by in 1938 and extended to its current length of . The Columbia River Bridge Company of

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Cana ...

, acquired ownership of the bridge in 1953 for $735,000 (equivalent to $ today). The Port of Cascade Locks purchased the bridge with $950,000 (or $ today) in revenue bonds, issued on November 1, 1961. The Port of Cascade Locks Commission owns and operates the bridge still today. The bridge is named after the historic geologic feature also known as Bridge of the Gods. The

Pacific Crest Trail The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), officially designated as the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, is a long-distance hiking and equestrian trail closely aligned with the highest portion of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges, which lie ...

crosses the Columbia River on the Bridge of the Gods. The lowest elevation of the trail is about a mile north from the bridge at . Onlookers in September 1927 saw

Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...

fly the '' Spirit of St. Louis'' from Portland low over the new bridge and then, in a bit of

barnstorming Barnstorming was a form of entertainment in which stunt pilots performed tricks individually or in groups that were called flying circuses. Devised to "impress people with the skill of pilots and the sturdiness of planes," it became popular in ...

, make a 180 degree turn and fly back under the bridge, continuing to the Portland Airport, then on Swan Island. The bridge toll increased to $2 per crossing due to the increased traffic after the release of the 2014 film ''

Wild Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to: Common meanings * Wild animal * Wilderness, a wild natural environment * Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed Art, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...

''.

References

External links

*
One site on the modern-day Bridge of the Gods

Port of Cascade Locks official site
* http://www.gatheringthestories.org/2013/11/25/charles-lindbergh-and-the-bridge-of-the-gods/
Youtube video
{{Authority control 1926 establishments in Oregon Bridges completed in 1926 Bridges over the Columbia River Transportation buildings and structures in Hood River County, Oregon Transportation buildings and structures in Skamania County, Washington Columbia River Gorge Road bridges in Oregon Road bridges in Washington (state) Toll bridges in Oregon Toll bridges in Washington (state) 1926 establishments in Washington (state) Steel bridges in the United States Cantilever bridges in the United States

See also

References

External links