Museum Closed for Winter

Museum season 2022 is a wrap! Thank you to the thousands of visitors who came to see us this year! It was so wonderful to welcome so many folks to our community.

The museum closes seasonally so that we can do all the important behind-the-scenes stuff that make our summers rock. We plan to come out of this winter with another major exhibit update and our first-ever strategic plan (YAY!!!!!). Thank you to Braemar Charitable Trust for supporting us on our strategic planning process.

Just because we're closed doesn't mean we're gone! Staff are available by email, phone, DM, and appointment. Stay tuned for off-site excitement through the winter, starting with a History Night at Gorges Beer Co. on November 10.

In the news: KGW's "What's in a Name?" Warrendale, Oregon

Friends of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum executive director Janice Crane appeared on KGW 8’s “What’s in a Name?” series. Do you know how Warrendale, Oregon, got it’s name? Learn now on KGW’s site.

Remembering Ken Royer

The Cascade Locks Historical Museum has lost one of its dearest Friends. Ken Royer, board vice president, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Ken has been involved with the Friends of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum since 2014.

Photograph of Ken Royer holding a snow shovel in front of his house. He is wearing glasses and a blue jacket.

Ken supported the museum during a crucial point in its existence. He was responsible in part for envisioning the growth trajectory of the museum to include full-time staff and capital projects, and spent years on committees organizing and fundraising to make it happen. He took it upon himself to follow the process to get the museum and Marine Park recognized on the “attractions” signs on I-84 and Highway 30. This greatly increased the visibility of the museum and led countless visitors to find their way into the park. Ken lent his project management skills to the museum by serving on the executive, budget, and by-laws committees.

At the end of every conversation I had with Ken, even if I just ran into him at the post office, he would pause, look me in the eye, and say “thank you for the work you do.” I have never had anyone so consistently and directly acknowledge their appreciation, and it meant so much to me that he made that effort. He was so dependable for any museum-related responsibility, and I could always rely on him for a joke if I was having a bad day. His quiet leadership, consistent gratitude, willingness to lend a hand, and friendly smile will be missed by all of us at the museum.

Coming Soon- Images of America: Cascade Locks and Canal

Explore hundreds of detailed historic photographs from the Cascades of the Columbia, through the construction and operation of the Cascade Locks and Canal, to its final inundation by the Bonneville Dam and development into the beautiful park it is today.

Preorder today for the August 8, 2022 release!

Join us for the book release party in the Marine Park Pavilion on Monday, August 8, or get your copy signed at our book signing at the museum on Saturday, August 13.

SUMMARY OF THE BOOK

A stretch of tumbling white water five miles long, the Cascades of the Columbia River were the single greatest barrier to inland river trade and travel in the Pacific Northwest. One solution, the Cascade Locks and Canal, took nearly 18 painstaking years to construct. From 1878 to 1896, hundreds of laborers blasted, chipped, and hauled over 800,000 cubic yards of rock and debris from the riverbed, carved and laid masonry, and welded steel to create the locks. After their completion, thousands of trips, millions of dollars in freight, and hundreds of thousands of passengers made their way through the locks. Made redundant in 1938 by the completion of the Bonneville Dam, the remnants of the structure are still visible today in Cascade Locks, Oregon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Friends of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum is the nonprofit organization that manages the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. Compiled by executive director Janice Crane, this text includes historic photographs from the collection of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum with additions from private collections and museums along the Columbia River.

ABOUT ARCADIA PUBLISHING

As the nation’s leading publisher of books of local history and local interest, Arcadia’s mission is to connect people with their past, with their communities and with one another. Arcadia is the home of unique hyper-local histories of countless hometowns across all fifty states, as well as books on local food, beer and wine; and stories of famous hauntings, all one American city and town at a time. Arcadia has an extraordinary catalog of 17,000 local titles and publishes 500 new books each year. Arcadia counts among its imprints Pelican Publishing, a 100-year old independent press based in New Orleans, and the critically acclaimed Wildsam Publishing, publisher of highly curated travel literature and guides. Using its proprietary Store Match system, Arcadia can create a highly customized hyper-local book assortment for any storefront in the nation.


Cascade Locks Historical Museum to Celebrate 160th Anniversary of the Oregon Pony

Cascade Locks Historical Museum to Celebrate 160th Anniversary of the Oregon Pony

The Cascade Locks Historical Museum is hosting a celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Oregon Pony. The Oregon Pony was the first locomotive to run on the first railroad in the state of Oregon. The event will take place on July 16, 2022 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum, 417 SW Portage Road, in Cascade Locks. Admission is $5 per person ages 4 and up, or free for younger children and museum members. The event includes admission to the museum, and access to crafts, games, and activities.

New! Family history activities available now.

We are delighted to offer a new set of family history activities! These worksheets are now available at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum. You can also download a PDF to do it yourself at home.

Recording memories as history

Telling stories can be a fun way to bond with family and friends. Did you know that your true stories are also important for history? Historians use journals, diaries, letters, notes, audio recordings, and even emails, blogs, and videos to show the thoughts and feelings that people have in response to big news and events. These recordings also help people understand how daily activities and trends change over time. Recording every day experiences helps future learners feel what daily life was like during historical events.

Think about events that have happened in your life.
Is there a story you would like to share?
How has daily life changed between when your grandparents were your age and now?

Would you like your story to be included in our museum collection? Send a copy of your story to the museum, or send a typed copy to collections@cascadelocksmuseum.org

Community Egg Hunt

The museum will host an activity table at the Cascade Locks Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Join us for family history activities!

Can’t make the egg hunt but want to work on community history with your family? You can download our activity worksheets here.