Information
Landmark: St. Johns BridgeCity: Portland
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
St. Johns Bridge, Portland, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
Stretching across the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, St. Johns Bridge stands out with its graceful Gothic-style towers and vivid green steel that catches the light on clear mornings.Finished in 1931, it links the St. Johns neighborhood in North Portland to the Northwest Industrial area, carrying cars and trucks over the river while standing as one of the city’s most admired pieces of architecture.The bridge’s Gothic-style towers rise with pointed arches and sharp vertical lines, their silhouette recalling the spires of a cathedral-a rare sight for a suspension bridge.The St. Johns Bridge stretches 1,207 feet across its main span and runs about 2,067 feet from end to end, a sweep of steel and cable that ranked among the Pacific Northwest’s longest suspension bridges when it first opened.Steel cables hold up the roadway, their ends anchored deep into solid ground, so the bridge sweeps in a clean, graceful arc high over the glittering river.Painted a rich, deep green and crowned with sharp Gothic towers, the bridge marries sturdy steel bones with intricate trim, a design where beauty and utility meet in every rivet.The bridge frames sweeping views of the Willamette River, green hills in the distance, and the Portland skyline glinting in the afternoon sun, drawing photographers, visitors, and locals who can’t resist the scene.Beneath and beside the bridge, trails wind through Forest Park and beyond, offering paths for walking, jogging, or cycling-and spots where you can pause to take in the view.The bridge’s sidewalks give walkers and runners a safe path, with room for an easy stride beside the railing, and link the span into Portland’s wider web of trails.The St. Johns Bridge stands as a proud emblem of Portland’s engineering past and civic spirit, its sweeping green towers appearing on postcards, in paintings, and across countless local snapshots.Built in the depths of the Great Depression, the bridge stood as both an engineering triumph and a lifeline that put hundreds of local hands to work.It’s turned up in countless films, TV shows, and other media, each appearance cementing its place as an architectural and cultural landmark-like that skyline shot glowing at sunset in a blockbuster’s opening scene.Drive across and you’ll take in sweeping views of the river and skyline; on foot or by bike, you can pause to study the Gothic towers up close, tracing the ironwork with your fingertips.Close by, spots like Cathedral Park under the bridge’s north end give you grassy picnic tables and plenty of great photo angles.You can reach the bridge from several neighborhoods, and it links you to leafy parks, winding trails, and the lively riverfront on both sides of the Willamette.For the best shots and a little breathing room on the walkways, head out early in the morning or wait until the soft, golden light of late afternoon.Wear comfortable walking shoes-you’ll need them for strolling the sidewalks or wandering the nearby trails, where gravel crunches underfoot.Tucked under the bridge’s north end, Cathedral Park has shady benches, a sweeping view of the river, and a quiet spot where you can sit back and simply watch the water drift by.The St. Johns Bridge blends sharp engineering with graceful design and the sweep of the Willamette below, making it one of Portland’s most iconic sights and a favorite for both commuters and sightseers.
