At that time, Oregon City was the capital city of Oregon Territory. It was where the pioneers gathered to hear updates about fellow travelers, get messages from family "back home," and lay claim to whichever piece of property they chose. After the Donation Land Claim Act was established and placed into effect in the early 1850s, it was also the place where they would file their DLCs for 320 acres per person over age 21. 

As Oregon Territory acquired a new population in the 40s and 50s, folks needed a way to get to the Willamette Valley. Although several adventurous souls did stop their travels when they reached Wasco County, most continued westward planned to stay in "the valley" at least for a while if their Oregon arrival was prior to the late 50s. In fact, it wasn't until the 1860s that Wasco County saw many permanent residents at all. There was one main reason for this: "Indian trouble." Oregon Territory government expressly prohibited the settling of lands in Wasco County during the 50s because there wasn't adequate protection against the Indians, who at that time were attempting to make the whites stop encroaching upon the hunting & fishing grounds that had fed their families for many generations. Aside from the occasional brave (or foolish?) "squatter," most of Wasco County's population was centered in and around Ft. Dallas, for this very reason.

Barlow Road offered an alternative to the perils of the primitive raft trips in the late 1840s; however, the route wasn't without its own dangers. It was devised to provide a path that went around the base of the ominous Mt. Hood, but the traveler still had to brave a journey over Oregon's rugged Cascade mountain range. The mountain range's unpredictable weather was always a risk and at a few points along the trail, wagons had to be lowered by ropes down steep chutes, then across a river or canyon, and pulled back up the cliffs on the other side with brute force. It seems that Mr. Barlow had forgotten a few key items in the plan he had presented to the government for permission and funding to blaze this new trail: oops...no bridges! <G>

For a photo of the Barlow house and a bit more information about the road, go here...or here.
 
 

MT. HOOD
Oregon's largest and best-known mountain stands guard beside the Columbia River within viewing distance from any location in Wasco County. The view is particularly breathtaking from atop of Tygh Ridge. Although Mt. Hood lies in the county next door to Wasco Co., its presence is significant to Wasco County's history and therefore has been included here. If it hadn't been for Mt. Hood, perhaps Wasco Co. would not have been the default "hub" for western and central Oregon transportation.

Part of the area around Mt. Hood has been deemed the Mt Hood Wilderness Area. From hiking to skiing to huckleberry picking (if you don't mind the bears taking their share beside you), it offers year-round enjoyment. It also offers a year-round view of snow. Driving toward it from any direction is truly awe-inspiring: its majestic peak can be seen from about a hundred miles in any direction.

The higher elevations of this dormant (so far!) volcano receive 60" to 100" of precipitation per year, almost all of it in the form of snow. The mountain is easily accessible from Wasco Co., either by following the old Barlow Road through Dufur (not advised in winter, and only for patient, history-loving drivers in the summer) or by following the interstate highway to Hood River and going south on Highway 35 (probably faster).

CASCADE LOCKS
This town on the Oregon side of the Columbia River was named for the series of locks built in 1896 on the Columbia River. More about that under the heading of "Bridge of the Gods." The town is also the starting point of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.

This location is also the home port of the "Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge," which makes daily two hour excursions on the river during June, July, August and September. During the cruise, a narrative is given on local history, Indian legends, geology and points of interest. 
 
 

BRIDGE OF THE GODS
There are many theories about the phenomenon known as the original "Bridge of the Gods" that spanned the Columbia River between the borders of Washington and Oregon. It's a fascinating story by anyone's account.

The Columbia is a mighty river, of a width and depth to draw great respect from its travelers. It is a river of many different navigational hazards, not the least of which is the notoriously narrow channel near The Dalles. In fact, when pioneers first came to the area in the 1800s, the river was much more treacherous than it is today, claiming many pioneer lives at the very end of their Oregon Trail journey. It has been "tamed" by the placement of locks and dams, but there are many who feel that the tradeoff was a bad one. The early pioneers who lost family members in this river would beg to differ. Those ancestors made it through all the other hazards of the 2,000-mile Oregon Trail, only to die just days short of reaching their goal.

Near the location of what is now known as "Cascade Locks" there exists a geological oddity. The locks themselves were built in 1896 as a way to channel the river vessels through one of the most dangerous parts of the Columbia River. There is a particularly narrow channel in the river at this location. The geological formation leaves us with many unanswered questions to this day. According to legend, there was at one time a natural bridge that spanned the Columbia River, linking what is now the state of Oregon to the state of Washington. There is evidence of such a bridge, or a part of one, having existed. Proof has also been found that part of the land that is now on the Washington side of the river was once on the Oregon side, and vice versa.

Legend would have us believe that the rock formations came together to form a bridge over the river – not simply a place where the river was rerouted, but an actual bridge, where water ran under it. Furthermore, local Indians of the 19th century claimed to have ancestors who used the bridge to meet with others in a great tribal council. To read some of the interesting findings of fact about this bridge and the impressions of those who actually investigated various aspects of the anomaly, you might want to visit this extra page about the subject (coming soon).

There are several versions of the story, most derived from or a part of Indian legends. There are a variety of Indian legends about the Bridge, too, each legend associated with a particular tribe. One particularly enjoyable version can be found at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation site, along with other great Native American legends. 

In these legends, one thing seems to remain consistent: the bridge ceased to exist because of some type of evil, usually selfishness or lust. Native American legends can be likened to many of the stories in the Bible, particularly the Parables. We may never know exactly how much "fact" is included in any given version of the legend, but then...does it really matter?

Bridge of the Gods legend

STARVATION CREEK State Park, a day-use facility 8 miles east of Cascade Locks, has as interesting a history as its name implies. The history is brief -- so brief, in fact, that there is not a single physical remnant remaining of the story itself -- but a frightening one, nonetheless.  The story takes place in the earliest years of railroad passenger service through the Columbia Gorge...

On December 18, 1884, the Pacific Express left The Dalles with 148 passengers and crew, scheduled to arrive in Portland later that day. Instead, the train became trapped between avalanches, unable to proceed in either direction. A relief party finally reached them on Christmas Day by foot, bringing whatever supplies could be brought in without wagons. Workers labored to open the line to Portland. It wasn't until  December 30 that a train broke through from The Dalles, and on January 6, 1885 the Pacific Express passengers finally reached Portland.

COLUMBIA RIVER SCENIC HIGHWAY
(info from: arcweb.sos.or.gov/50th/columbia/coulumiabackground.html)

The official opening of the Columbia River Highway from Portland to Hood River marked the completion of a tremendous feat of highway construction. On June 6, 1916, dedication of the highway took place at Crown Point. On that rocky promontory, 733 feet above the Columbia River, construction of Vista House began that same year.

The view from Crown Point is one of the most inspiring and beautiful sights in Oregon. In 1971, the federal Department of the Interior designated Crown Point as a Natural Landmark of national significance.