Nutty Narrows Squirrel Bridges
Longview, Cowlitz County, Washington. Squirrel bridge.
Details
- Where
- Olympia Way, between 18th Avenue and Maple St, Longview, WA. Directions
- When
- Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington.
- Getting there
- The Original Nutty Narrows bridge currently resides on Olympia Way, between 18th Avenue and Maple St.
- Phone
- (503) 395-8778
- Managed by
- Rotary Club of Longview.
- Established
- 1963.
Squirrel Bridges were made to keep squirrels from having to cross the road.
Notable Events
- 1963Peters's three children pooled their allowance and had the dead squirrel that inspired the bridge preserved by a taxidermist as a Christmas gift to their father. dahp.wa.gov
- 1963With agreement from parks superintendent Frank Willis, Peters presented the idea to the Longview City Council, which passed a motion to accept the offer. dahp.wa.gov
- 1963The bridge was unveiled at a grand dedication ceremony with marching bands; police closed the street and the 60-foot-long bridge was hung over Olympia Way. dahp.wa.gov
- 1968A civic booster group called the Sandbaggers staged a campaign to import squirrels when the population dwindled over a harsh winter. dahp.wa.gov
- 1983After 20 years of use Peters took down the worn-out bridge for repairs; Chip and Dale and Mickey Mouse from Disneyland, local dignitaries, and 300 children rededicated it. mylongview.com
- 1984Peters died, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder. mylongview.com
- 2010After being moved four times due to failing supports, the bridge was reinstalled near its original location, and the Sandbaggers held a tongue-in-cheek ceremony. dahp.wa.gov
- 2010Longview Parks employee Kurt Nedved helped raise the bridge to its new home on Olympia Way. spokesman.com
- 2011The bridge's following blossomed into Longview's annual Squirrel Fest. spokesman.com
- 2013The Nutty Narrows Bridge celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013 and had been nominated for the National Register of Historic Structures. mylongview.com
- 2014Nutty Narrows was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, two days after the 2014 Squirrel Fest. spokesman.com
People
- Amos J. Peters, owner of a construction company; the bridge's designer and builder.
- Frank Willis, Longview Parks Department superintendent who agreed to the idea.
- Mrs. P. H. LaRiviere, Sr., councilwoman who suggested the name Nutty Narrows.
- Roy A. Betlach, Chief of the State Patrol, representing Governor Albert Rosellini; cut the dedication ribbon.
- William J. Hutch, Peters's brother-in-law and co-owner of the Amos J. Peters Construction Company; built the bridge with Peters.
- Win Jones, insurance man and Park Plaza tenant; after Peters told him the idea, things moved rapidly.
- Amos Peters, local builder who built the bridge (died in 1984).
- Bess LaRiviere, councilwoman who jokingly dubbed the bridge Nutty Narrows.
- Bill Hutch, builder, with Amos Peters.
- Donald Kramer, structural engineer.
- LeRoy Dahl, architect who designed the bridge.
- Robert Newhall, architect who designed the bridge.
- Adrian Donovan-Boyd, of Portland; prepared the National Register nomination for free.
- Roger Peters, Amos Peters's youngest son.