How a Vaudeville Show and a Budget-Friendly Design Built Portland's Tallest Bridge

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The St. Johns Bridge is an architectural icon of Portland, defined by its soaring Gothic-inspired towers. Yet, its existence was far from guaranteed. Overcoming local skepticism and financial hurdles, the project relied on a creative lobbying campaign and a cost-saving design shift to span the Willamette River in 1931.

The St. Johns Bridge, a steel suspension structure spanning the Willamette River, serves as a vital link between the Cathedral Park and Linnton neighborhoods. Designed by engineers David B. Steinman and Holton D. Robinson, the bridge was initially met with resistance from Multnomah County officials who doubted the necessity of a crossing so far from the city center. To secure funding, proponents launched a unique lobbying effort that included vaudeville-style performances at local grange halls and schools. Their persistence paid off in the November 1928 elections, when voters approved a $4.25 million bond for the project.

Construction began in 1929, just before the stock market crash, providing essential employment during the Great Depression. While a cantilever design was originally proposed, a suspension bridge was ultimately selected, saving an estimated $640,000 in construction costs. Upon its completion in 1931, the bridge set several engineering records, including having the longest prefabricated steel cable rope strands and the tallest steel frame piers of reinforced concrete. It was also the first bridge to apply aviation clearance lights to its towers, a nod to its proximity to the Swan Island Municipal Airport.

The bridge's aesthetic, characterized by its Gothic arch towers, has made it a landmark of enduring beauty. However, maintaining such a structure has proven complex. By the 1970s, the bridge had deteriorated, leading to a 1975 agreement where the State of Oregon assumed maintenance from the cash-strapped county. Major rehabilitation projects followed, including a significant $38 million effort completed in 2006 that involved replacing nearly half of the vertical suspender cables. More recently, in 2022, the state began repairs on concrete support columns that had exposed internal steel frames, with completion expected in 2026. Beyond its engineering history, the bridge has served as a site for activism, most notably in 2015 when protesters blocked an icebreaker from departing to the Chukchi Sea.

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