Grave Creek Bridge, Covered bridge in Sunny Valley, Oregon.
Grave Creek Bridge is a covered wooden bridge roughly 105 feet long with distinctive Gothic windows on both sides and rounded portals. The structure features a shake roof and crosses the creek below while carrying a local road over the water.
The bridge was built in 1920 and originally served as a crossing for the Pacific Highway, a major north-south route of its time. It received recognition on the National Register in 1979 and underwent significant restoration work from the late 1990s into the 2000s.
The bridge represents a connection between rural communities in the region and reflects how transportation shaped settlement patterns. Visitors can see how the structure was designed to serve local traffic rather than major highways.
The bridge sits about 15 miles north of Grants Pass and is visible from Interstate 5, making it accessible for those passing through the area. You can approach it on foot to examine the wooden structure and interior details up close.
The bridge was designed using a Howe truss system by engineers A.A. Clausen and J. Elmer Nelson, a structural approach that proved durable enough to serve for over a century. This particular construction method became one of the most reliable timber bridge designs of its era.
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