From time immemorial rivers have been one of the most significant features in human life. Not only did they provide a source of food, as the S’Klallam used the salmon from the Dungeness, but they were also a major transportation route--a metaphorically bridge from one region to another. Although the Dungeness is too short and steep to be a primary transportation corridor we are all aware that explorers such as Lewis and Clark used rivers extensively for that purpose.
Going to and from this cache, you get a good view of the complexity of the Dungeness with its braided, log filled, frequently shifting course. In addition we can see two reminders that rivers can be a significant barrier to modern transportation--trains and automobiles. Railroad trains need relatively straight courses for their route and frequently need bridges to cross them. Beginning in the mid 1800’s this led to a remarkable advance in the engineering skills of bridge builders and through the trees, upriver to the south, we can see the impressive structure which was originally built in 1915 and replaced in 1930 that gives the park its name. In use for 55 years, this bridge is now on the National Register of Historic Places as one of the last timber Howe through truss railroad bridges in Washington.
Along the route you may have noticed another example of bridge building; but in this case the river won. The concrete structure you see, often covered with unwelcome graffiti, and affectionately known locally as the “submarine” for its suggestive shape, is an old bridge pier. NOTE: because of the graffiti and people it attracted this pier was removed in 2013; however, we have left its description for historical purposes>) Several years ago the Washington highway department engineered a river crossing at this point and erected two anchoring piers, one on either side of the river. Fortunately, before the project was completed, the pier on the west side was washed out in a flood and the road route was moved to a more stable site. NOTE: you may also see some no trespassing signs enroute to the cache; these may be ignored since the park now owns the land but just has not yet remove the signs.