Bridges, Portland, and a Big & Awesome Bridge Tour
You may have noticed Portland Bridges are all over Habitate's website. These amazing jewels of engineering and form have long held a special fascination for me and I love the way these structures symbolizes the way Habitate bridges the world between owners and renters. (We are the bridge, get it?)
I recently had the good fortune to start working with other bridge aficionados with the PDX Bridge Fest, a local non-profit that celebrates and raises awareness regarding the bridges in Portland and Vancouver.
This talented group knows so much more than I do about the bridges that span "Bridgetown" (one of Portland's most popular nicknames) and have brought to the City of Portland events like the Brunch on the Bridge and other great 100 year celebrations.
Currently, the PDX Bridge Fest is gearing up to support the publication of The Big & Awesome Bridges of Portland & Vancouver , by Sharon Wood Wortman and Ed Wortman. A great and colorful publication for kids that talks about all of Portland Bridges. Teaching history, science, and engineering along the way.
If you are as fascinated as I am with Portland's Bridges and history there is a great opportunity to learn more and support the PDX Bridge Fest. Willamette Bridge Walk will be hosting seven walking tours of Portland's bridges in August and September. Half of ticket sales go to support the non-profit.
Here is more about these tours, directly from Willamette Bridge Walk:
Come on a walk exploring the unique bridges that define the urban landscape of Portland. We'll choose from a handful of these structures to visit up-close, and we'll admire many more from afar, along the way making a stop to meet a bridge operator and explore the inside spaces of a moveable bridge.
No two walks are the same, but we may also listen to the song of a singing bridge, test for synchronous vertical excitation, or cross the longest indoor suspension bridge in the U.S. All tours begin at the corner of NW 5th & Irving, just outside Union Station, and are about four hours long. Various dates and times (see schedule).
These bridge tours are fundraisers for PDX Bridge Fest! For all seven of these scheduled walks, half of every ticket sale goes to PDX Bridge Fest to support future programs, projects, and the ongoing celebration of our magical bridges.
The tour is $16 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Pre-registration is required. Please send us an email so that we know to expect you. For more information visit http://www.willamettebridgewalk.com
About our tour guide:
Nathan Hoover is a Portland artist, farmer, and tour guide. He has received recognition for his work by the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Lundberg Family Farms, and others. For more on his projects, please check out: http://www.bohemianstorytellingtours.com, http://www.habitatfarm.com, and http://nathanhooverart.blogspot.com/