“The Historic Columbia River Highway: A Study of its History, Decline, and Preservation.” (Film)

Date, Location

Tue, 10/25/2011 - 6:30pm - 8:00pm

McMenamins Edgfield
2126 SW Halsey Street
Troutdale, OR 97060

About the Event

The Oregon Encyclopedia (The OE) continues its monthly series of History Nights at McMenamins pubs. At each History Night, The OE will look back at the seminal people and events that have shaped our communities.Visit www.oregonencyclopedia.org for History Night locations and more details.

When the Columbia River Highway was completed in 1922, it became the first modern highway in the Pacific Northwest and the first scenic highway in the United States. Thanks to the efforts of businessman Samuel Hill and architect Samuel C. Lancaster, the highway was an engineering marvel, enhanced by the graceful masonry and bridge construction Lancaster added to his design. Beginning in the 1930s, however, increased traffic forced a new route along the Columbia, bypassing much of the original highway and leaving much of it to fall into disrepair. An effort to restore the old highway and its spectacular views of the Gorge began in the 1980s, and it was named a National Historic Landmark in 2000. Today, the highway is the focus of a comprehensive preservation program by the Oregon Department of Transportation.

 

Presented by: Robert Hadlow, Dave Sell, and George Fekaris

Robert Hadlow, Senior Historian for ODOT, and Dave Sell and George Fekaris, transportation planners for the Federal Highway Administration, will tell the story of the highway and outline the future of this historic roadway.

 

Cost: Free

To Register:

No registration.  Free and open to the public.

Event Website

The Oregon Encyclopedia