Gribblenation

  When the Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia River first opened on August 27, 1966, some 30,000 people came to Astoria, Oregon to mark the occasion of the bridge's grand opening. The Astoria Megler Bridge, the longest continuous truss bridge in North America at 4.1 miles between Astoria, Oregon and Megler, Washington, came after decades of slogging through the legislative processes in both Oregon and Washington State. But the history of a "bridge to nowhere" quickly faded as tourists traveled across the bridge in droves, continuing through Astoria on their drive up US 101 (the Oregon Coast Highway). Few people would doubt the importance of the bridge today, and looking through history, it's strange to think it was ever doubted at all. The opening of the bridge marked a major milestone in regional travel, but also marked one of the Pacific Northwest's final and most triumphant victories: conquering the mighty Columbia River. Connecting the Columbia River at A...

  The Columbia River Gorge's Bridge of the Gods is in essence three bridges in one. There's the physical bridge that links I-84 and US 30 in Cascade Locks, Oregon across the Columbia River with WA 14 near Stevenson, Washington. But there's also the geological landslide event that caused the Bridge of the Gods and the Bridge of the Gods in folklore, which are both tied to this same location. Other items of note involving the Bridge of the Gods happened as well. Lewis and Clark portaged at the Cascade Rapids at the Bridge of the Gods during their exploration in 1805 and 1806. In September 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew up the Columbia River Gorge from Portland in the famed airplane "Spirit of St. Louis", passed low over the newly built bridge, turned around, flew under the bridge, and then headed back down the gorge to the Swan Island Airport. For hikers, the Pacific Crest Trail uses the Bridge of the Gods as it crosses the Columbia River at mile 2,155 of the famed h...