Drivers traveling the rural roads north of Gresham, Oregon, sometimes spot a tall, slim wooden tower standing at the end of a driveway. About 15 feet in height, it’s covered in siding, topped with a small gabled roof, and includes a glass viewing panel at the base facing the driveway. It’s clearly not a mailbox, not a deer feeder, and not a quirky treehouse—it serves an entirely different purpose.
Locals refer to it as a “driveway periscope.”
Solving a Visibility Challenge
Many country driveways meet the road at spots where hills, foliage, or fencing make it nearly impossible to see approaching cars. While some homeowners install convex traffic mirrors across the street, this tower approaches the problem in an inventive way. Using a pair of angled mirrors—much like a submarine periscope—the top mirror reflects the view of oncoming traffic downward to another mirror, directing the image to the glass window near the bottom. Before pulling onto the road, drivers simply check the panel to see if the coast is clear.
No wiring. No cameras. Just smart use of reflection and simple mechanics.
