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Hawthorne Bridge Photos

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Sarah C.

Did you know you can review bridges on Yelp?! Hawthorne Bridge is a love/hate relationship for me. It was the closest bridge to me when I first moved to Portland, so I feel a nostalgia for the many times I would cross it on my way to work downtown. However, I don't like the experience of driving on the crosshatched metal of the bridge, nor down the center lanes facing one another. I love the way it looks but I am not a fan of waiting for it to raise and lower. It connects two great parts of town. Overall, I must admit it's a favorite bridge in this city of bridges.

Hawthorne Bridge from west side
Kim G.

For panoramic views of Portland, walk across the Hawthorne Bridge! Looking south you see RiverPlace Marina and the harbor filled with boats with the buildings rising behind. There is the floating dock on the eastern shore where on a sunny day there are sunbathers, swimmers and people launching kayaks. And a plethora of boats of every size and purpose, some jet skis and kayaks. To the north, the a Moda Center and Convention Center stand out with the buildings in downtown and the myriad of shapes and colors making a stunning backdrop. The new, modern and graffiti art shaped buildings on the east side as a stark contrast. Then there is the bridge itself, the architecture, the multiple arches and greenish color. This is the oldest vertical lift bridge in operation in the US! While driving across this bridge often means traffic depending on the time of day, my review is focused on walking across the bridge and continuing along one of the many loops by choosing another bridge to cross back over. The Steel or Broadway Bridge to the North; the Tilikum to the South. The pedestrian / cycle path is wide but depending on the day and time it does get crowded. Many commuters use this bridge to get to work. On weekends there are a lot of people enjoying the view, especially on sunny days. Pay attention to your surroundings as some of the cyclists cruise fast and often don't alert the pedestrians. When I'm crossing this bridge, I don't listen to music; I stay alert. Add this bridge and loop to your list of things to do when you have out of town visitors to give them stunning view of our City and the Willamette. It's also a place for locals to come out during all weather and seasons to enjoy the beauty of Portland.

Jen M.

One of the most beautiful bridges in portland, but one of my least favorite to drive on. It's terrifying. I'd give it 0 stars if I could.

View from the bridge
Cassandra B.

Walk across Hawthorne Bridge for some great views of the city. Or conversely, bike across the bridge. I seen plenty of those cute tourist carriage bike things (which you cant rent nearby) pedaling away on the bridge. What's nice about Hawthorne is that there are huge pedestrian pathways, with lanes for walkers and bicyclists. While there are bus stops that stop along the bridge, it's best to take a leisurely stroll to take everything in. It only takes about 15-20 minutes to walk across Hawthorne Bridge. Bree B. and I started on the downtown side of the bridge by and walked until we were kaput, then hopped on the bus back home. YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2017: #34

Green light
Patricia A.

Rain, rain, rain, and lightning it's always fun going over a bridge and there are many to choose from in Portland.

One of my favorite sights in the city.
Jen K.

I adore this bridge so much it drives me a little insane. Which is appropriate since it was named for the co-founder of Oregon's first mental hospital [1]. Did you know Hawthorne Blvd. was originally named Asylum Avenue? For me the bridge is bittersweet and every time I see it I smile and tear up a little bit. When I travel and am feeling homesick, it is the image I associate with Portland and my love of the city. This time of year, I'm downtown several times a week rowing on the Willamette River. We start by heading upriver to John's Landing. On our return trip to the Riverplace Marina, I eagerly look for the bridge on the horizon as the sun goes down and the lights come up in the city. My arms are burning, my chest is heaving, but it is there to welcome me back. It is the bridge I take to visit dear friends who live just off Hawthorne by some of my favorite bars and restaurants in the city. It is part of my favorite walk in town (start by crossing the Steel Bridge, walk along the Eastbank Esplanade, then return on the Hawthorne). I've biked across the span as part of the Bridge Pedal and run across it on various 5 and 10k races through downtown. Hawthorne was also the name of a beautiful and wonderful woman who passed far too early from this life. So the bridge is so much more than a bridge to me. It is a talisman. It brings me strength and protects me on my journeys as I discover Portland. It is a reminder to me to live your best life every day. Keep your eyes and heart open and sometimes magic happens. The best we can do is to live and ultimately die with humor, grace and letting your unique spirit fly. It is Portland's bridge. It is my bridge. It is home. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_Bridge

Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If you ever need help, call 503-988-4888
Bryan I.

The Hawthorne Bridge: It's beautiful architecture and critical function as the southern-most bike/pedestrian bridge linking the East and Westside waterfront esplanades make it an iconic stalwart in countless paintings and photos of the Bridge City waterfront. As an east-bound driver be very careful with the bike/pedestrian lanes as the cross the right lane of traffic at on/off-ramps!!!

Jon L.

Hawthorne Bridge is one of the numerous bridges connecting to downtown Portland. In this case, it connects downtown with Hawthorne Boulevard and the Central Eastside Industrial District which is one of the hot spots for breweries in town. The bridge is a historical landmark and architectural marvel. It has got great views towards the south and the north along with a view of the downtown Portland waterfront. Buses and cars cross the bridge while on the sidewalk you will see lanes for pedestrians and bikers. It is a popular bridge to cross (busiest bicycle and transit bridge in Oregon), so pay attention to your surroundings when doing so. If you are new to Portland or visiting for the first time, walking across the Hawthorne Bridge makes for a nice stroll particularly in the evening at around sunset with the many lights surrounding the structure and in the distance.

View from the east bank.
Andi F.

I love this bridge. Whether it is the rumbly feeling of the grates under the four tires of your automobile, or the addition of the vibrations on your bicycle or the sway when you are walking across, this is a great bridge. This bridge is a truss bridge with a vertical lift that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, joining Hawthorne Boulevard and Madison Street. It is the oldest vertical-lift bridge in operation in the United States and the oldest highway bridge in Portland. It is also the busiest bicycle and transit bridge in Oregon, with over 8,000 cyclists and 800 TriMet buses (carrying about 17,400 riders) daily. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 2012.

Pedestrian walkway of bridge
John C.

It's free to walk over and it's pretty cool. It's a bit open and you can really feel the wind and the vehicles driving next to you. Also there's bicyclists traversing the same path. Wouldn't recommend to people with kids for safety reasons.

I took the landscape pic, the rest are by my little brother
Joshua C.

Usually the results of those "What Would Two People's Baby Look Like" programs are pretty horrific, especially some of the celebrity ones. This is not the case with the Hawth, the aesthetically pleasing asymmetrical green love child of the Steel and Broadway bridges. Easy to access. Easy to cross (on no wheels, one wheel, two wheels, or four). Easy to look at. That's all I got, because Jen K.'s way more profound review has this bridge covered (and I'm lazy). http://www.yelp.com/biz/hawthorne-bridge-portland#hrid:6Cy0cOejFaYIk-EGg9ujUA Visuals: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/o1e9ZjINiDJ7J3EBGkUICg?select=3Ci8U-pwx5pEvbNy0M96-Q

Lets go for a ride on the Hawthorne Bridge.
Gregory A.

Portland is kinda like a bag of M&M's. Reach into the bag and you never know what colour you're gonna get. Might be red (the Broadway bridge) or dark brown (the Steel Bridge - it's kinda dark brown), or yellow (Tilikum Crossing - I know it's white) or green - The Hawthorne Bridge or any of our other number of bridges and their various shades of concrete. The Hawthorne has always been my favorite since back in the day I rode my bike to work across it or walked across it from ancient times of free parking in Portland. The best move Portland ever made was to widen the pedestrian/cycling lanes and make it more user friendly. The bridge is NOT up every single day - just during fleet week - get a grip people. That happens like four times every single year and it's not like it's a secret either. Portland is lot of things - weird, eclectic, trendy, hipster but it's also accommodating, flexible and thoughtful. The Hawthorne Bridge is truly a gateway into the heart of our beloved city, a landmark and welcome ride whether you're on a bus, in a car, on your bike or just using your two feet to transport you around.

Valery C.

Of the four bridges we crossed while visiting Portland, whether on foot or vehicle, the Hawthorne Bridge was certainly the most beautiful. This green-hued steel bridge has raised, wide lanes for shared bicycle and pedestrian traffic along the outer bridge, with two westbound and two eastbound lanes in the center. The steel truss only encompasses the innermost two lanes. It is also a vertical lift bridge, and apparently a frequently used one at that. Starting off a pedestrian ramp from Tom McCall Waterfront Park, we first encountered a bike counter at the west end. Hawthorne was a nice walk, the walkway spacious and open. In the early afternoon, it was also uncrowded. Once over to the East side, one can get off the highway via stairs that drop down to SE Madison St, or a bus stop, or walking a few blocks until the highway merges to street level at SE Grand Ave. Easily walkable and very pretty, Hawthorne is a great pedestrian bridge.

Looking up from the park walkway (via GMaps). They should put a fine mesh or solid surface under the grating. Common sense.

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Review Highlights - Hawthorne Bridge

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Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Japanese American Historical Plaza

Portland Oregon White Stag Sign

4.3(58 reviews)
0.7 miOld Town - Chinatown

Woohoo! I just hit my 6,000th review! Whenever I hit a landmark review like this I go write about a…read morelandmark in the Pacific Northwest. Some say they haven't seen an account with this many reviews but there is indeed some accounts that have way surpassed my amount of reviews. I believe there is a Yelper out there (Bruce K.) that is from Charlotte, North Carolina that comes in with 23,000 reviews and 61,000 pictures for his reviews as of 2024 so I have waaaay more review writing to do to even get remotely close to this guy. The reviews I write is for something that is unique only to the place I have adopted as home ( or the region that I call home as opposed to a city). Previously I have written about the mountains of our region like Mount Rainier but this time around I wanted to write about something more urban and a place I always love visiting...Portland! The White Stag Sign is so signature Portland! We have seen it lit up at night and have seen it during the day. All of which we have managed to get different angles to look at. As other reviewers say the admission is free... which kind of makes sense since it's a sign. This sign at times seems to be so obvious that it's hard to miss but other times on the Interstate we miss it completely giving it that "camouflaged" notion in amongst the building and bridges... of course we may just be looking in the wrong place too...keeping one's eyes on the road is an upmost priority... which should go without saying. But you can still stroll by here as a pedestrian and get some great pictures of this Portland landmark and a landmark that totally smacks of Cascadia and the Pacific Northwest!

Finally got the chance to see and be where the stag sign is after many years! Street parking is…read moreavailable in the area and a quick walk towards the park where you have a better view of it. You can also go up the stairs and see it from a closer view. Tree branches do obscure the view a bit. Very satisfying experience!

Photos
Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Absolutely amazing views on a clear night

Absolutely amazing views on a clear night

Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Eastbank Esplanade

Eastbank Esplanade

Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Exceptional views at night

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Exceptional views at night

Keep Portland Weird - Weekend morning, no cars!

Keep Portland Weird

4.0(85 reviews)
0.7 miDowntown

Another Portland landmark when it comes to signage. This is an iconic sign and you see it in films…read moreand tv shows and such when the setting is in this particular city. Portland is indeed a weird place and that is one of the reasons that I love it so much. It's quirkiness and art oriented drive is the "weirdness" I am referring to which makes this sign highly relatable to me. Anything that can make you lovably eccentric. Of course there is the weird element where it can delve into creepy but most people can flesh out as to what is purposeful and with intent as opposed to the opposite. I consider myself to be a weirdo and people have accused me of just that throughout my life and it's something I learned pretty early on that it's a thing to be embraced rather than treating our uniqueness and eccentricities ( the harmless kind) as a crutch, burden or handicap. I remember when I was a fairly new transplant to the Pacific Northwest there was a friendly rivalry that I would hear off and on as to what was the weirdest city in America. Austin, Texas and Portland were neck to neck and from what I heard Portland won out but of course I haven't been to Austin in a very long time and before I ever heard of the rivalry so maybe down there they say they are the victors. I may find out when I go there later this Spring. But for me seeing this sign whenever I come across it is an enduring thing and I feel like I am with my tribe... both in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

This is located right across the street from Voo Doo Donuts. The sign is pretty cool. There's…read morealways cars parked there so not sure how some folks get photos without any cars. Still, worth checking out when you're in downtown.

Photos
Keep Portland Weird
Keep Portland Weird
Keep Portland Weird

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Portlandia - Portlandia reaches out to us!

Portlandia

4.0(33 reviews)
0.4 miDowntown, Southwest Portland

Portlandia...I actually think I have heard of the TV show of the same name before hearing the…read moreexistence of this statue. But the statue definitely came prior to the show. The trident wielding woman is enormous and is awe inspiring and beautiful and perhaps to a certain kind of man perhaps intimidating but that isn't necessarily a problem there. This statue is on the Portland Building and if you simply wall by or near it's nearly impossible to miss. This is also an attraction where there is no fee to take a look at it as it can literally be seen quite easily from the public sidewalk. Yet another iconic downtown Portland landmark that is not to missed!

Using imagination Portlandia emerged from the sea - all copper - and crouches vigilant on the…read morePortland building. Watching us! Her captivating eyes draw you to a closer look. With one hand reaches out to us. In a way we are like her as we all emerged from the sea (water) from our mothers womb. She reaches for us to live as one in peace the way John Lemon wrote is his song "Imagine" - "Imagine all the people livin' life in peace." In the one hand Portlandia holds a trident, perhaps symbolizing protection for the city dwellers - for Portlandian's. Portlandia reminds me we are one city! One people! One earth! That's just my spin of this beautiful copper lady.

Photos
Portlandia
Portlandia
Portlandia - I used an older camera model for this photo and did some editing to get this picture that has a vintage look to it of Portlandia.

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I used an older camera model for this photo and did some editing to get this picture that has a vintage look to it of Portlandia.

Lan Su Chinese Garden - Congee of the Day!

Lan Su Chinese Garden

4.4(733 reviews)
0.9 miOld Town - Chinatown

We attended the Dragon Light Festival at the LAN Su Chinese Garden recently at the later evening…read moreprogram. It was fabulously colorful and professionally performed. The garden was beautiful and lit tastefully in red and gold tones . The two of us thoroughly enjoyed our evening in Portland's historic old town. Parking was on the street and we got lucky for a space right out front of the garden . Highly recommend this experience.

Garden is very small, not much to do or see. This is in downtown area so there's a big homeless…read morepopulation along with many people screaming and fighting outside the garden which was quite scary. I honestly don't think it's a very good garden compared to other ones I've visited. Parking was also hard to find too since it's in downtown and we finished walking through the garden within 30 minutes. They seem to have really cool events during the weekends and they also have guided tours but again, very small garden so not really going anywhere and they're just telling you about the history which is already available for you to read or watch in another building. They have a small, very expensive gift shop up front near the box office that has many Chinese books and other small business items. Wouldn't recommend unless you live somewhere that doesn't have an Asian garden, you may enjoy this.

Photos
Lan Su Chinese Garden - 2/24/2024 - 新年快乐 Had a wonderful time celebrating new years with Dragon dancing and the lantern festival.

2/24/2024 - 新年快乐 Had a wonderful time celebrating new years with Dragon dancing and the lantern festival.

Lan Su Chinese Garden - 9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - For the illuminated lion dance everything was lit throughout the garden.

9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - For the illuminated lion dance everything was lit throughout the garden.

Lan Su Chinese Garden - 9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - I was seated right where the musician was setting up to play the Guzheng

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9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - I was seated right where the musician was setting up to play the Guzheng

Lovejoy Columns - Before the Pearl District

Lovejoy Columns

4.6(10 reviews)
1.0 miPearl District

The Lovejoy Columns are an interesting little piece of Portland's history. There are many articles…read moreavailable if you want to read the full story of the columns. Once upon a time the Lovejoy Columns supported the Lovejoy Ramp which was a viaduct connecting NW 14th Ave and Lovejoy Street to the Broadway Bridge. This viaduct ran above railroad freight tracks in the area that is now known as the Pearl District. From 1948-1952 a Greek immigrant, who worked as a night watchman for the railroad, drew wonderful pictures on the columns in chalk and later painted them. When the viaduct was demolished in 1999 to make way for all the condos and businesses that make up the Pearl District, several of the original columns were saved and stored beneath the Fremont Bridge. Two of those original columns have been restored and relocated here. The columns are beautiful to behold and definitely worth visiting.

Everyone deserves to pursue their dreams. Carpe diem. Athanasios Efthimiou Stefopoulos is not a…read morename that rolls off the tongue unless you're a cast member of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" nor unfortunately is it a name you'll see in an art museum as much as he must have dreamed of that. Early in the last century, he was a railroad watchman who happened to be a talented, proto-graffiti artist. He went by the name Tom to his friends and painted the Broadway Bridge Lovejoy overpass columns with fanciful images of mythical gods and wild animals. Several endured over the years though most are in some abandoned lot awaiting funding for restoration. Two of them have been refurbished and placed in a courtyard on NW 10th Avenue near Everett. If you're walking into the Pearl District from the western part of the city, it's likely the first landmark you'll see. Check 'em out. RELATED - Going to Portland? Here are the places I visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2B0haJD

Photos
Lovejoy Columns - Elliot Smith Film

Elliot Smith Film

Lovejoy Columns - Lovejoy Columns

Lovejoy Columns

Lovejoy Columns - Today

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Today

Hawthorne Bridge - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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