CASCADE LOCKS MARINE PARK AND COLUMBIA GORGE STERNWHEELER

The rapids which gave the entire Cascade Mountain Range its name used to be at this part of the Columbia River. Boulders scattered through the Cascade Rapids allowed local Native Americans great vantage points for catching fish during the massive salmon runs. In this way, the great river provided for her people for generations. However, that which nourished and allowed the Indians to thrive was considered a nuisance to the white folks of the 1800's.

So they built a set of locks, opened in 1896, which allowed ships to skirt around the rapids.

But, of course, our White ancestors were not happy with a "go-around." Heck no! Why not just raise the river to the point where the rapids disappear?

So, in 1938 all the mighty Cascades were submerged under the water blocked by Bonneville Lock and Dam, 4 miles downstream.

Now, of course, in addition to aiding navigation, Bonneville is a major producer of hydroelectric power -- which has brought tremendous benefits to this part of the country with relatively minimal pollution. A way of life for perhaps hundreds of years dissolved to make way for navigation and power as the new settlers modified the mighty Columbia to better serve their needs.

Bonneville Dam rendered the locks here unnecessary, so they were dismantled and the area was turned into a community park.

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The Columbia Gorge Stern Wheeler is one of a few diesel replicas of some of the old steam-powered ships which plied these waters near the turn of the 20th Century.

https://www.portlandspirit.com/sternwheeler.php

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