The covered bridge across Little Butte Creek in Eagle Point, Oregon has regained its status on the National Register of Historic Places after nearly 25 years. The bridge was originally built in 1922 and listed on the register in 1979 but was removed in 1988 due to modifications that changed its historic character. However, after the city reboarded and repainted the bridge to more closely match its original historic design, the National Park Service agreed to relist it. The city plans to install a plaque within weeks to commemorate the bridge's historic status, which is significant for the local tourism industry.

1. Covered bridge regains historic status
The covered bridge across Little Butte Creek in Eagle Point is back on the National Register of
Historic Places. Mail Tribune/ Bill Miller, Jan 10, 2013
EAGLE POINT — After nearly a
quarter century, the covered bridge
across Little Butte Creek has
regained national historic status.
City Planning Director Mike Upston,
returning to work just after the New
Year's holiday, got the news in a
telephone call from the State Historic
Preservation Office in Salem that the
National Park Service in Washington,
D.C., had agreed to relist the bridge
on the National Register of Historic
Places. The Park Service maintains
the register.
"It's really exciting," Upston said. "We've been working on this for five or six months now."
Built in 1922 and officially known as the Antelope Creek Bridge for the stream it originally
crossed, the bridge was moved to Eagle Point in 1987. It was listed on the National Register in
1979, but after the move and subsequent modifications that changed its historic character, the
bridge was removed from the register on April 18, 1988.
"There were a couple of reasons why it was delisted," Upston said, "particularly because arched
windows were cut out on both sides. Since those years, the city has gone back and re-boarded
it, painted it and taken steps to be sure it's as consistent as possible to its historic origin."
He said the city is ordering a bronze plaque commemorating the bridge's national historic
status and expects to mount it on the bridge within a few weeks.
City Council member Jonathan Bilden, liaison to the city's Economic Development Commission,
said he thought the relisting was big news for the city.
"In the Economic Development Commission we talk so much about tourism for the city," Bilden
said. "Having that bridge listed is a great thing and I appreciate all of Mike's efforts."
With 50 still in existence, Oregon has the largest collection of covered bridges in the western
United States, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation website.