The Columbia River Gorge
Many roads develop gradually. A game trail becomes a footpath, which becomes a wagon path, is improved for early vehicles, widened, and may eventually evolve into a modern superhighway. Prior to 1863, when the Union Pacific Railroad line was opened, the only means of access from the Pacific Coast to the “Inland Empire” of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana was the Columbia River. It was Sam Hill, the son-in-law of the Great Northern Railroad magnate, who saw the value of road access to the incredible scenery of the Columbia Gorge. They thought it couldn’t be done, but through incredible personal effort and a large investment of family wealth, a highway was carved around, over, and through the basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge. It was opened in 1916, the era of the Model-T, allowing access to the Inland Empire by motor vehicles. It became a victim of its own success, as ever-increasing commercial traffic required faster, straighter, wider roads. Fortunately, the Columbia Gorge Historic Highway is now being restored and reopened for those of us who are not in a rush and can pause to enjoy the view from Rowena Crest.
Many roads develop gradually. A game trail becomes a footpath, which becomes a wagon path, is improved for early vehicles, widened, and may eventually evolve into a modern superhighway. Prior to 1863, when the Union Pacific Railroad line was opened, the only means of access from the Pacific Coast to the “Inland Empire” of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana was the Columbia River. It was Sam Hill, the son-in-law of the Great Northern Railroad magnate, who saw the value of road access to the incredible scenery of the Columbia Gorge. They thought it couldn’t be done, but through incredible personal effort and a large investment of family wealth, a highway was carved around, over, and through the basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge. It was opened in 1916, the era of the Model-T, allowing access to the Inland Empire by motor vehicles. It became a victim of its own success, as ever-increasing commercial traffic required faster, straighter, wider roads. Fortunately, the Columbia Gorge Historic Highway is now being restored and reopened for those of us who are not in a rush and can pause to enjoy the view from Rowena Crest.
