November 2, 2026 2:50 a.m. 

The Pass Creek Covered Bridge in Drain, is among Oregon’s newest entries on the National Register of Historic Places.

A release from Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation said they recommended the nomination for the bridge at its June 2026 meeting. The bridge was originally constructed in 1925, but in 1987, it was dismantled and later reassembled downstream of its original location. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register, accepted the nomination in October 2026, for its statewide significance in the area of Engineering.

Located in Drain’s Civic Center Park, the Pass Creek Covered Bridge is an excellent representation of Oregon’s historic covered bridge-building tradition. Once there were an estimated 450 timber-truss covered bridges in Oregon, but as of 2026 there are no more than 50 remaining.

The release said the Pass Creek Covered Bridge served vehicular traffic for nearly six decades before it was replaced by a concrete span. Following its relocation, Pass Creek Covered Bridge functioned as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing for many years. The bridge has been closed since 2014 due to condition issues, but it remains a prominent community landmark.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

Visit the National Register program webpage for more information at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx.