Take a trip along the Historic Columbia River Highway, a winding road amidst lush green trees, cascading waterfalls and magnificent vistas, and you’ll be at a loss for words. The explosion of color and sound is a sensory feast and a wonder to behold. But the intrigue of the highway doesn’t stop there. Along with its unquestionable beauty, the Historic Columbia River Highway also boasts remarkable history.
Before the highway was built, traveling from northeastern Oregon west toward the Pacific Ocean was extremely difficult. A traveler could raft down the river, brave the Gorge filled with mudflows, rock slides and rock walls, or follow the Barlow Road, which was part of the Oregon Trail. All possible routes meant difficult and tiring journeys. A railroad was completed along the Columbia River by the 1880s and provided some relief. By 1900, “Good Roads” promoters pressed for a system of roads in the Pacific Northwest. This led to widespread support for a road in the Gorge that could accommodate automobiles and trucks.
In the early 1900s, Samuel Hill, the “Father of the Columbia River Highway,” invited Samuel C. Lancaster, a renowned engineer from Tennessee, to share in his quest to build a highway in Columbia Gorge. Both Lancaster and Hill wanted to do things “the right way … so as not to mar what God put there,” according to Lancaster. They wanted to “find the beauty spots, or those points where the most beautiful things along the line might be seen in the best advantage, and if possible … locate the road in such a way as to reach them.” Because of this philosophy, tourists and travelers can now enjoy the idyllic Columbia River Gorge at its finest, its beauty almost untouched by man. Designed from the beginning to be sympathetic to the magnificent landscape, the Columbia River Highway was the first scenic highway in the United States and a technical and civic achievement of its time.
The highway project began in 1913. Two years later, the road was ready for paving. On June 7, 1916, the highway was dedicated, and ceremonies were held at Crown Point and Multnomah Falls. As part of the ceremonies, President Woodrow Wilson pushed a button at the White House, electronically unfurling an American flag at Crown Point. Visit Crown Point today and explore the Crown Point Vista House, which was built from 1916 to 1918 to commemorate the completion of the Historic Columbia River Highway and to honor the Oregon pioneers. Today, the Vista House serves as an information center and tourist attraction and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005, the house was restored completely. As you travel the Historic Columbia River Highway, stop to explore the house's restored Art Nouveau architecture and enjoy exquisite views of the highway.
On June 27, 1922, Simon Benson, a strong supporter of the highway, spread pavement on the last segment at Rowena Point near The Dalles. The Illustrated London News called it “the king of roads.” With the completion of the highway came a surge of economic growth for the area.
Unfortunately, the byway’s fame didn’t last with new technology. The narrow and winding body of the byway became impractical for faster cars and bigger trucks. By 1931, developers had made plans for a straighter road closer to river level. By 1954, this new “water-level” freeway stretched all the way to The Dalles, but its construction caused significant damage to the old highway. Many classic tourist stops were shut down and abandoned. Segments of the highway were shut down quickly and the Historic Columbia River Highway was deteriorating.
In the 1980s, interest in the byway returned and preservation efforts started. Abandoned sections were renovated and restored for foot and bicycle traffic, and in 1983, the remaining sections of the byway were nominated by the Oregon Department of Transportation to the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Columbia River Highway was also designated as a National Historic Landmark on May 16, 2000, making it the first scenic byway to be given the designation.
Today, more than 75 percent of the original highway has been restored and is accessible to travelers. Drink in the landscape at any of the open vistas accessible from the byway, including Rowena Crest and the Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, located at opposite ends of the byway. Bring your camera and take home a piece of the history of the Historic Columbia River Highway. As you partake of the highway's inimitable scenery, take a moment to remember its meaningful history. Thanks to those willing to dream so many years ago, travelers can once again enjoy the splendor of "the king of roads.”
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Historic Columbia River Highway Overview