Prineville Oregon Crooked River Steel Bridge 1911 Real Photo Postcard
The Crooked River Railroad Bridge, seen here during its construction, was a significant steel engineering achievement in Central Oregon, completed around 1911. As indicated on the postcard, its impressive single span measured 330 feet long and soared 360 feet above the Crooked River. This structure was a crucial component of the Oregon Trunk Railway, designed to overcome the region's challenging topography and connect resource-rich areas.
The bridge's completion marked a pivotal moment in the competitive "Hill–Harriman railway wars" of the era, enabling vital rail access to Central Oregon for both freight and passenger service. Such massive infrastructure projects of the early 20th century were instrumental in facilitating settlement, resource extraction, and commerce across the vast American West, reflecting an era of ambitious railroad expansion and industrial prowess.
The bridge's completion marked a pivotal moment in the competitive "Hill–Harriman railway wars" of the era, enabling vital rail access to Central Oregon for both freight and passenger service. Such massive infrastructure projects of the early 20th century were instrumental in facilitating settlement, resource extraction, and commerce across the vast American West, reflecting an era of ambitious railroad expansion and industrial prowess.
