If you’ve ever driven along a quiet country road north of Gresham, Oregon, you might have spotted something unusual:
A tall, narrow wooden tower — about 15 feet high — standing beside a driveway like a silent sentinel.
It has:
- Siding and a small pitched roof
- A glass panel at eye level
- No wires, lights, or power source
It’s not a mailbox.
It’s not a birdhouse.
It’s not a forgotten art project.
So… what is it?
Locals know it as the “driveway periscope” — a brilliant, low-tech solution to a common rural problem: poor visibility at dangerous intersections.
And once you understand how it works, you’ll wonder why every hidden driveway doesn’t have one.
🔍 The Problem: Hidden Driveways in Rural Areas
In rural communities, many homes sit back from the road, with driveways that meet unmarked, winding roads.
Often, hills, trees, fences, or curves block the view of oncoming traffic.
This creates a dangerous situation:
- Drivers can’t see cars approaching
- Oncoming drivers don’t expect sudden turns
- Accidents become more likely
The usual fix?
👉 A convex (fish-eye) mirror across the street.
But mirrors have limits:
- They can be broken or vandalized
- They distort distance
- They’re hard to see in rain, snow, or fog
So one inventive homeowner came up with a better idea.
🛠️ The Solution: A DIY Periscope Tower
Meet the driveway periscope — a hand-built wooden tower that works just like a submarine’s periscope, using simple physics and angled mirrors.
How It Works:
Top of the tower
