Toledo
Toledo, situated on a bend of the Yaquina River and surrounded by wooded hills, is just seven miles inland from the Central Oregon Coast, the only inland coastal community with a deep water channel. The historic town cascades over the hillsides to the river. Once a bustling mill town, Toledo is known today for antiques, its community of artists living and working in Toledo, and shops specializing in fine yarns and locally handcrafted gifts.
View down NE Alder to historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, built in 1927, designed by Ellis Lawrence, founder of the University of Oregon School of Architecture. Courtesy Toledo Chamber of Commerce. Toledo is one of the few cities in Oregon which has a downtown on a city street, not on a throughway or highway. Toledo’s Main Street retains its historical flavor, the waterfront and fishing vessels visible moored at the end of Main.
When the wind starts to blow on the beach, Toledo is often warm and sunny. Antique shops, art galleries, gift shops selling the work of local crafters, a glass blowing studio, a fine yarn shop and restaurants make Toledo an interesting place to visit. Several world class artists make their homes here, taking inspiration from the small town atmosphere and beautiful river, estuary, and rural vistas.
Featured activities
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Chitwood Covered Bridge
Toledo, Oregon 97391This is the first covered bridge to be restored in Lincoln County and it is named for the community of Chitwood, which is named for its founder, Joshua Chitwood. The bridge was originally built in 1933 and has a Howe Truss that is 96 feet long. It spans the Lower Yaquina River near Highway 20 east of Toledo. Otis Hamer using the Howe Truss design – a method combining iron uprights with wooden supports, patented by William Howe in 1840, built the bridge in 1926. The same truss design was used when Aubrey Mountain Construction rebuilt the bridge in 1983-84 with federal and state funding. Also retained were the flared sides, semi-elliptical portal arches and barn red color, characteristics found in all Lincoln County covered bridges. Leading the reconstruction effort for the Chitwood Bridge was local resident Sharon Salazar, who now serves as vice-president of the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon. Today, Chitwood is a ghost town but the bridge still provides access to motorized traffic from Highway 20 to homes across the Lower Yaquina River. The weight limit is eight tons. HOW TO GET THERE: From Newport drive east on Hwy 20. From Corvallis drive west on Hwy 20. The bride is located near milepost 17.
Featured Events
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Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show
Toledo, Oregon 97391Saturday, Aug 18th, 2012 - Sunday, Aug 19th, 2012The Annual Port of Toledo Wooden Boat Show is an old-fashioned, down-home waterfront festival where everything is fun and nothing much is fancy. It’s as authentically grassroots American as you can get! Launched in 2005, the first Wooden Boat Show kicked off to coincide with the City of Toledo’s Centennial Celebration.
Held in August when the weather is fantastic, the Wooden Boat Show showcases vintage and new wooden boats at Port Dock One! The finest boat builders in the Pacific Northwest come to display their work and demonstrate their craft. Live music, food from various vendors and events for the whole family make this a festival not to be missed. Local artisans line the walk to display and sell their work.
Every year the Wooden Boat Show honors a builder, style or era of wooden boat. A commemorative poster is created each year to set the tone for the event.
For more info
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Toledo Chamber of Commerce
311 NE 1st St, P.O. Box 249
Toledo, Oregon 97391
Phone: 541-336-3183
Email: info@VisitToledoOregon.com
Website: www.visittoledooregon.com -
Central Oregon Coast Association
801 SW Highway 101, Suite 1
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
541-994-8378 or 800-452-2151
Email: COCA@CoastVisitor.com
Website: www.coastvisitor.com