Sight #7 Hawthorne or Morrison Bridge

Willamette River Bridges

County Commissioner's Journal, 2/11/1887

As you face the river, on your right is the oldest extant bridge managed by Multnomah County, Hawthorne Bridge. Constructed in 1910, the Hawthorne Bridge has undergone many changes in its history, but has not yet been completely replaced. Originally it featured a timber deck and sidewalk.You can read about Hawthorne Bridge’s history on Transportation's website. The bridge is named for physician and politician Dr. James C. Hawthorne (1819-1881), who ran the County’s poor farm on Canyon Road and later the Hawthorne Asylum.

Hawthorne was also involved in building the first bridge over the Willamette, Morrison Bridge, which can be seen to your left. The Morrison Bridge you see today dates from 1958. This bridge replaced two earlier structures built in 1887 (partially funded by Hawthorne as part of the Portland Bridge Company) and 1905 (built by Multnomah County) for the Lewis and Clark Exposition (also known as the Old Morrison Bridge).

The 1887 Morrison bridge, built by the Willamette Iron Bridge Company, was the longest bridge west of the Mississippi. Construction was hampered by a lawsuit arguing that the bridge obstructed the river. The case was decided in March of 1888, about a year after the bridge first opened. This excerpt, from the February 11, 1887 Board of County Commissioners meeting minutes, details the setting of tolls for the bridge. At this time, the commissioners were also the Court. Oregon Historical Society's Oregon History Project has a picture of the original structure taken in 1889. It may have been named for John L. Morrison, an early homeowner.

The 1905 “Old Morrison Bridge” was another swing bridge over which electric streetcars ran. The 1905 bridge was still in operation (and terminated at Morrison Street) when the 1958 bridge was built. This picture at the Oregon Historical Society shows the two side by side.