We keep seeing these along the roads in Oregon, and we still have no idea what they are. They’re usually placed at the end of a driveway, with the lower glass section facing toward the road. They look like they’re around 15 feet tall. Every time my wife sees one, she gets frustrated trying to figure it out. At first, we wondered: Is it some kind of lookout tower? A giant birdhouse? A wildlife feeder? It looks like there’s nothing inside, but there has to be a reason people bu… See more

 

Along a quiet rural road north of Gresham, Oregon, a curious structure has caught the attention of passing drivers. Standing about fifteen feet tall with beige siding, a small roof, and a glass panel facing the street, it looks at first like a treehouse or birdhouse. In reality, it serves a much more practical purpose—locals refer to it as a “driveway periscope.”

Many homes in rural Oregon sit along narrow, wooded roads where trees or uneven terrain make it hard to spot oncoming traffic. While some residents rely on roadside mirrors, one inventive homeowner took a different approach. By using the same principles as a submarine periscope, they built a tall tower that lets drivers see if the road is clear before pulling out of their driveway.

The design is straightforward but effective. A mirror at the top captures the view of approaching vehicles, while another mirror below reflects that image down to a viewing panel at eye level. There are no electronics, motors, or complex mechanisms—just simple geometry and light reflection working together to improve safety