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A roughly 60-foot squirrel bridge over Olympia Way in Longview, Washington, built in 1963 by contractor Amos J. Peters. Washington's historic preservation office calls it the oldest known squirrel bridge in the United States; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
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Nutty Narrows Bridge
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Approximate location · 46.138° N, 122.938° W
FIELD GUIDE
The story
A bridge built for squirrels made news around the world in 1963. The Nutty Narrows Bridge spans Olympia Way in Longview, and Washington's Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation calls it the oldest known squirrel bridge in the United States.
Contractor Amos J. Peters, whose office was in the Park Plaza building across from a city park, came up with the idea after finding a squirrel killed on the road outside. He put it to the Longview City Council on 28 February 1963, and a councilwoman is reported to have "facetiously suggested the name 'Nutty Narrows'", the state office thinks this was likely a reference to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Peters and his brother-in-law built the bridge in their company workshop for about $1,000, with Park Plaza covering the cost and upkeep.
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PRACTICAL
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WHAT TO EXPECT
A small bridge strung over Olympia Way, seen from the ground in the adjoining park. Longview has further squirrel bridges around Lake Sacajawea (nine, per Lower Columbia College in December 2025), and the college says an annual Squirrel Fest is held in Civic Circle in summer.
ACCESS
Hangs over Olympia Way near Civic Center Circle in Longview. It is viewed from the ground in the adjoining park; the street below carries traffic.
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