Sightseeing

Historic Columbia River Highway

 

Length: 70 miles / 112.0 km
Time to Allow: Allow 3 to 5 hours minimum. However, many travelers take a few days to experience all the sights.

Driving Directions
In order to travel the Byway itself, follow the keystone signs from Troutdale east to Dodson and from Mosier east to The Dalles.

Historic Downtown McMinnville

In the days of strip malls and big box stores, there is a place within the heart of Oregon wine country where the 1800s meets the 21st Century.

While in communities around Oregon historic downtowns are struggling, along East 3rd Street in McMinnville, the downtown isn’t just surviving, but flourishing.

Historic Union Hotel

I will admit it, I am addicted to technology.

If I’m not nose down in my smart phone, I am staring at a computer screen reading the latest news, blogs or Facebook status update. Don’t even get me started about my addition to football on TV.

So as you might imagine, I went into my stay at the Historic Union Hotel with some trepidation.

Historical Markers Cannon Beach

Lt. Neil M. Howison, U.S.N., arrived in the Columbia River 1 July, 1846 on board the 300-ton United States Naval Survey Schooner "Shark" for the purpose of making an investigation of part of the Oregon Country. His report was instrumental in creating public interest in the Oregon Territory and formulating a decision on the location of the boundary between English and American lands.

Historical Markers Ecola-Whale Creek

On January 8, 1806 William Clark and perhaps fourteen of the famous expedition reached a Tillamook village of five cabins on a creek which Captain Clark named Ecola or Whale Creek. Three days earlier, two men sent out from Fort Clatsop to locate a salt making site had brought back whale blubber given them by Beach Indians. Appreciating the welcome addition to the explorers' diet, Clark set out to find the whale or buy its blubber.

Historical Markers Fort Clatsop

Fort Clatsop, Built by Lewis and Clark in December, 1805 for use as winter headquarters, was situated eight-tenths of a mile south of his point. The site was chosen because of the game in the surrounding country and because it was convenient to the coast where salt could be made for the journey of the exploration party back to the Missour. Elk were found in abundance and salt was made at what is now Seaside. The local Indians were friendly but it was disappointing that no trading vessels entered the river during the stay.

Historical Markers Fort Stevens

Fort Stevens was named for General Isaac Ingalls Stevens, first Governor of Washington Territory, who died a hero of the Civil War of 1862. The fort was built in 1846 and decommissioned in 1947. Some 3000 acres of sandy wasteland known as Clatsop Sand Plains were stabilized here in the 1930’s by the planting of beach grass, shrubs and trees. This park area was donated to the public by Clatsop County in 1955. The Columbia River to the north was discovered by the American fur trader, Captain Robert Gray in 1792 and was named after his ship.

Historical Markers Sunset Highway

This highway is reverently dedicated to Oregon's sons. Members of the 41st division, both living and dead, who wore the Sunset emblem and offered their all in complete devotion to the cause of world peace.

Historical Markers Tsunami-Seaside

Devastating waves called “tsunamis” can strike the Oregon coast at any time. These waves are caused by great undersea earthquakes that occur along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, one of the largest active faults in North America. 

Horning's Hideout

Tranquility is a word many visitors use as soon as the y enter the 160 acres of Horning’s Hideout. That’s how Jane and her son, Bob Horning like it. The two, along with Jane’s late husband, Dick, developed the tranquil setting over the past 52 years.

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