Cascade Locks in Hood River County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

The Bridge of the Gods

A Bridge Through Time

Bridge of the Gods Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

1. Bridge of the Gods Marker

Inscription.

The Bridge of the Gods. A Bridge Through Time. , Although steel has been made for centuries, it wasn’t until the Bessemer process was introduced in the 1870s that it could be produced in quantity. , The Bridge of the Gods mural is the creation of Larry Kangas, of Beaverton, Oregon. Commissioned by the city of Cascade Locks, and completed in November 2001, it’s a visual tour through the history of this beautiful area. , Visit the Cascade Locks Marine Park to see the original ship locks (listed in the National Register of Historic Places), an historical museum, the Oregon Pony, and a stern-wheeler. , 1 - Can you see all three eagles? Hint: stand back on the sidewalk and look high and low. , 2 - Wolf, bear, and cougar are important figures in Indian legends. , 3 - Sasquatch ("Bigfoot") appears in Indian oral tradition as well. The artist claims that the Bigfoot drawing is based on an actual sighting he made from this spot while he worked on the mural late into the night. The locals think he probably just dozed off. What do you think? , 4 -Coyote is an important figure in Indian legends: he's said to have created the River People, as well as the Columbia Gorge itself. , 5 -People have lived here for at least 11,000 years. The "River People" who originally inhabited the Gorge are the ancestors of today's Northwest Indian tribes. , 6 -The sheer cliffs on Table Mountain (3,417') and Greenleaf Peak (3,422') were formed around 1700 by the Bonneville Slide, which also formed the ancient “Bridge of the Gods" and the Cascade rapids. , 7 -The original "Bridge of the Gods" was an ancient land bridge recorded in Indian legend. , 8 -Stern-wheelers plied the Columbia from 1850 to 1938. Pictured is the classic vessel, Tahoma. , 9 -Cascade Locks was a busy waypoint for cars, and some steamboats and trains in the 1930s. , 10 -The modem Bridge of the Gods was completed in 1926. , 11 -Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis under the bridge in 1927. , 12 -The "locks" operated from 1896 to 1938, helping river travelers bypass the dangerous Cascade rapids. , 13 -Lewis and Clark descended the Columbia River in 1805 and returned in 1806. They camped on the island near the Washington bank. , 14 -The stern-wheeler Bailey Gatzert was a frequent visitor to Cascade Locks. , 15 -The Oregon Pony was the first steam locomotive west of the Mississippi, and traveled the first railroad in the Northwest. , 16 -The Bridge of the Gods was built by the Wanua Toll Bridge Company and was subsequently raised 40 feet to accommodate ships after the construction of the Bonneville Dam. , Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Although steel has been made for centuries, it wasn’t until the Bessemer process was introduced in the 1870s that it could be produced in quantity.

The Bridge of the Gods mural is the creation of Larry Kangas, of Beaverton, Oregon. Commissioned by the city of Cascade Locks, and completed in November 2001, it’s a visual tour through the history of this beautiful area.

Visit the Cascade Locks Marine Park to see the original ship locks (listed in the National Register of Historic Places), an historical museum, the Oregon Pony, and a stern-wheeler.

1 - Can you see all three eagles? Hint: stand back on the sidewalk and look high and low.
2 - Wolf, bear, and cougar are important figures in Indian legends.
3 - Sasquatch ("Bigfoot") appears in Indian oral tradition as well. The artist claims that the Bigfoot drawing is based on an actual sighting he made from this spot while he worked on the mural late into the night. The locals think he probably just dozed off. What do you think?
4 -Coyote is an important figure in Indian legends: he's said to have created the River People, as well as the Columbia Gorge itself.
5 -People have lived here for at least 11,000 years. The "River People" who originally inhabited the Gorge

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are the ancestors of today's Northwest Indian tribes.
6 -The sheer cliffs on Table Mountain (3,417') and Greenleaf Peak (3,422') were formed around 1700 by the Bonneville Slide, which also formed the ancient “Bridge of the Gods" and the Cascade rapids.
7 -The original "Bridge of the Gods" was an ancient land bridge recorded in Indian legend.
8 -Stern-wheelers plied the Columbia from 1850 to 1938. Pictured is the classic vessel, Tahoma.
9 -Cascade Locks was a busy waypoint for cars, and some steamboats and trains in the 1930s.
10 -The modem Bridge of the Gods was completed in 1926.
11 -Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis under the bridge in 1927.
12 -The "locks" operated from 1896 to 1938, helping river travelers bypass the dangerous Cascade rapids.
13 -Lewis and Clark descended the Columbia River in 1805 and returned in 1806. They camped on the island near the Washington bank.
14 -The stern-wheeler Bailey Gatzert was a frequent visitor to Cascade Locks.
15 -The Oregon Pony was the first steam locomotive west of the Mississippi, and traveled the first railroad in the Northwest.
16 -The Bridge of the Gods was built by the Wanua Toll Bridge Company and was subsequently raised 40 feet to accommodate

Bridge of the Gods Marker (<i>wide view; south bridge pier mural in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

2. Bridge of the Gods Marker (wide view; south bridge pier mural in background)

ships after the construction of the Bonneville Dam.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Man-Made Features • Native Americans • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.

Location. 45° 39.71′ N, 121° 53.9′ W. Marker is in Cascade Locks, Oregon, in Hood River County. Marker is on Wa Pa Na Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in the Columbia River Highway State Trail Bridge of the Gods Trailhead parking lot, beside the street, under the bridge, in front of the bridge pier. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cascade Locks OR 97014, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named The Bridge of the Gods (approx. 0.3 miles away in Washington); the Oregon Pony (approx. half a mile away); Cascade Falls Portage (approx. half a mile away); Lewis and Clark Trail (approx. 1.6 miles away in Washington); Gatekeepers of the Columbia (approx. 1.7 miles away in Washington); "The Great Shoote" (approx. 2.2 miles away in Washington); Steamboats Docked at Stevenson

Bridge of the Gods East Pier Mural image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

3. Bridge of the Gods East Pier Mural

(approx. 2.2 miles away in Washington); Great Depression Threatens Bank (approx. 2.3 miles away in Washington). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cascade Locks.

Regarding The Bridge of the Gods. Pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail’s water route were forced to choose between taking the high, dangerous route over Mt. Hood’s steep Barlow Road, an overland toll road, or rafting down the Columbia, risking their life and property on the treacherous river. 1864, the first steam locomotive in the Pacific Northwest - the Oregon Pony - portaged steamboat passengers and goods past the Cascade Rapids. Steamboats provided transportation on the Columbia between Portland and mining areas in Idaho and the Columbia Plateau. (Submitted on January 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Ancient Land Bridge and Legend. Port of Cascade Locks entry:
Scientists believe that about 1,000 years ago, a giant landslide from the north shore of the Columbia River blocked the Gorge and stopped the river’s flow. This natural dam created an inland sea in eastern Oregon, Washington, and into Idaho. Over time, water eroded the dam

Bridge of the Gods (<i>north side & river view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

4. Bridge of the Gods (north side & river view)

and created an awesome natural stone bridge. Eventually, this bridge fell, creating the Cascade rapids. (Submitted on January 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Charles Lindbergh and the Bridge of the Gods. Gathering the Stories entry:
September 1927 - following Charles Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic flight in May, Colonel Lindbergh himself flew up the gorge from Portland in his famous Spirit of St. Louis, passing low over the new Bridge of the Gods, banked his plane and in a dramatic show of barnstorming, flew under the bridge and headed back to Swan Island. (Submitted on January 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Bridge of the Gods (<i>south side view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

5. Bridge of the Gods (south side view)

Bridge of the Gods (<i>east pier view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

6. Bridge of the Gods (east pier view)

Historic Columbia River Highway 1916 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 11, 2015

7. Historic Columbia River Highway 1916

Historic Highway Identification mounted on post supporting the marker

Cascade Locks image. Click for more information.

via Oregon Encyclopedia, unknown

8. Cascade Locks

"Dalles City steamboat at Cascade Locks."
Oregon Encyclopedia entry
(Steamer Dalles City in Cascade Locks, Columbia River. Univ. of Oreg. Lib. - Special Coll. and Univ. Archives, ORU_PH035_9563)
Click for more information.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 831 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 4, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 5, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 7. submitted on January 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 8. submitted on August 16, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.