Drivers traveling a quiet rural road north of Gresham, Oregon, often notice a tall, slender wooden tower standing at the end of a driveway. About 15 feet high, the structure features beige siding, a small pitched roof, and a lower glass panel facing the driveway. It’s not a deer feeder, treehouse, or mailbox—it’s something far more inventive.
Locals call it a driveway periscope.
A Clever Fix for a Common Rural Problem
Many rural homes sit along unmarked roads with limited visibility due to hills, fences, or thick trees. Homeowners often solve this by installing convex mirrors across the street. But one Oregon resident took that idea a step further.
Using a set of angled mirrors—much like a submarine periscope—this handmade tower lets drivers see approaching traffic before pulling onto the road. The upper mirrors capture the view of oncoming cars, while the lower mirror reflects that image down to the window at the base.
No electricity. No high-tech gadgets. Just physics and smart design.