Maryhill Museum, East of the Columbia Gorge
One of the most rewarding aspects of travel is the element of surprise. You never know what unexpected event may occur or what unusual sight may be around the next bend in the river. This was certainly true for the members of the Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery who, upon leaving the Mandan villages in April of 1805, were heading into literally uncharted territory. About 40 years later, travelers on the Oregon Trail may have had some idea of what they faced, but their information was often corrupted by propaganda, hype or optimistic misconceptions. In the town of The Dalles, where we disembarked this morning, those exhausted pioneers making their way to the Willamette Valley in Oregon Territory 160 years ago confronted a difficult choice – the “Decision at The Dalles.” They had to either float their belongings down the treacherous rapids or take the 85-mile Barlow Road overland – a steep and sometimes impossibly challenging toll road completed in 1846 by Samuel Barlow.
Opportunities for surprise are still very possible in expedition travel today in many parts of the world. Even on the “Great River of the West” – a key commercial artery for a region that has been inhabited for at least the last 12,000 years – it is easy to be startled. Who would have imagined that high above the shores of the Columbia, truly out in the middle of nowhere, a world-class art museum keeps watch over the traffic flowing up and down on the river, roads and railroad tracks below? Inside the museum is a collection of works that puts the word “eclectic” to shame. Shocking is perhaps a better way to describe the variety of the artifacts and art housed at Maryhill. Included is an excellent assemblage of Native American beadwork, basketry, tools and personal items from around the country, chess sets ranging from the most whimsical to the solidly classical, an entire room full of sculptures and drawings by Rodin of which the image above is an example, as well as many of the personal belongings of the former Queen of Romania. But wait, that is just the beginning! Step outside the museum and you will be greeted by some of the 50 peacocks that live on the grounds, both the colorful variety most of us have seen, as well as less common white specimens. Travel just a short distance to the east and there stands a modern replica of Stonehenge, the astronomical observatory built nearly 5000 years ago on the Salisbury Plain of southern England.
You never can tell what you might find during a day of adventure travel.
One of the most rewarding aspects of travel is the element of surprise. You never know what unexpected event may occur or what unusual sight may be around the next bend in the river. This was certainly true for the members of the Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery who, upon leaving the Mandan villages in April of 1805, were heading into literally uncharted territory. About 40 years later, travelers on the Oregon Trail may have had some idea of what they faced, but their information was often corrupted by propaganda, hype or optimistic misconceptions. In the town of The Dalles, where we disembarked this morning, those exhausted pioneers making their way to the Willamette Valley in Oregon Territory 160 years ago confronted a difficult choice – the “Decision at The Dalles.” They had to either float their belongings down the treacherous rapids or take the 85-mile Barlow Road overland – a steep and sometimes impossibly challenging toll road completed in 1846 by Samuel Barlow.
Opportunities for surprise are still very possible in expedition travel today in many parts of the world. Even on the “Great River of the West” – a key commercial artery for a region that has been inhabited for at least the last 12,000 years – it is easy to be startled. Who would have imagined that high above the shores of the Columbia, truly out in the middle of nowhere, a world-class art museum keeps watch over the traffic flowing up and down on the river, roads and railroad tracks below? Inside the museum is a collection of works that puts the word “eclectic” to shame. Shocking is perhaps a better way to describe the variety of the artifacts and art housed at Maryhill. Included is an excellent assemblage of Native American beadwork, basketry, tools and personal items from around the country, chess sets ranging from the most whimsical to the solidly classical, an entire room full of sculptures and drawings by Rodin of which the image above is an example, as well as many of the personal belongings of the former Queen of Romania. But wait, that is just the beginning! Step outside the museum and you will be greeted by some of the 50 peacocks that live on the grounds, both the colorful variety most of us have seen, as well as less common white specimens. Travel just a short distance to the east and there stands a modern replica of Stonehenge, the astronomical observatory built nearly 5000 years ago on the Salisbury Plain of southern England.
You never can tell what you might find during a day of adventure travel.
