Bridge of the Gods turns 100

CASCADE LOCKS — The Gorge’s most iconic bridge — a steel truss cantilever named after a divine Native American legend and home to the Pacific Crest Trail — turns 100 this year.

Kids and families congregated at the Cascade Locks Marine Park on Sept. 19 to celebrate the historic landmark’s birthday and ring in another century of safe state-boundary commerce. Business kiosks, food trucks, and live music dotted the lawn as the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler made rounds.

Columbia Gorge News spoke with three members of the centennial celebration’s planning subcommittee to learn more about what makes the Bridge of the Gods a particularly meaningful and remarkable structure.

Brittany Berge, a former project coordinator with the Port of Cascade Locks (PCL), said the planning process began two years ago, around the time she was transitioning away from her role. But her expertise on the matter made involvement with the subcommittee a natural development.

“The bridge is an important staple,” Berge said. “Not only for bridging our communities together, but also providing commerce on both sides of the river and being absolutely vital to the economy here in the region.”

Current Port of Cascade Locks Commissioner Carrie Klute headed the subcommittee, which she said was formed early due to initial lofty ambitions. The team ultimately hired an event promoter, Jason Waicunas — known for his work on the annual summer festival, Pacific Crest Trail Days.

“The bridge was built to withstand time,” Klute said. “We need to celebrate these big milestones if we expect the bridge to be able to be  here for another 100 years. It’s not like some other bridges that need to be replaced. This       is a landmark, and it’s really special to our community.”

Janice Crane, executive director of Friends of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum, said the bridge is one of the only steel cantilevers left, as others are removed and replaced with wider, concrete models that can accommodate greater loads. “The fact that this one is still in such good condition makes it really significant.”

Opening in 1926 after a six-year building process that included major funding hurdles, the Bridge of the Gods was initially pitched by a Historic Columbia River Highway worker as a vehicle for automobile tourism. The location was not only narrow but gorgeous, and with the recent completion of the Interstate Bridge connecting Portland and Vancouver, a scenic driving loop could be established.

Before its completion, the best way to see the Gorge was via boat; excitement around cars and their ability to capitalized upon the region’s ripe potential for tourism ultimately sold the project and helped erect the bridge we still enjoy today.

Berge said the centennial event, which saw hundreds throughout the day, went about as well as they could’ve hoped. “You’re doing a one-off event — you don’t know what the outcome is going to be. We could not have asked for better weather.”

For more information on the bridge’s history, visit cascadelocksmuseum.org. For more on upcoming centennial-related events, visit portofcascadelocks.gov.

•••

Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe and read more at columbiagorgenews.com.