As we travel through the Columbia River Gorge on the Sea Lion, from the dry eastern regions to the vivid greenery of the west, we see on its southern edge the Historic Columbia River Highway.
Built in the period from 1913 to 1922, it is an artifact of an earlier age. Gently curving along the cliffs and shoulders of the riverbank, it winds for ninety miles. Craftsmen, masons, engineers, and many other workers, produced the highway that has become a world class transportation corridor.
At the east end, a winding highway curls in upon itself, climbing to Rowena Crest, where the view upriver is superb. But here at the west end, as this picture shows, is a place that is called Crown Point. It is fitting that early designers felt that a monument, Vista House, should be constructed here. Visitors have been coming here since the highway was opened to see the artistic works and historic interpretations of the highway itself. As time went on, it was greatly weathered, but a restoration project of the last two years has returned it to its former grandeur. Once again people may stop and view the gorge laid out before them and look closely at Vista House.
Many things come and go; products of changing times and ideas. Some things are as transient as the yellow maple leaves that fall around us on this October day. Some things live on in our memories; sunrises, wind in our hair, green timbered hillsides, tall rock columns, and most of all, our Columbia River Gorge.
Built in the period from 1913 to 1922, it is an artifact of an earlier age. Gently curving along the cliffs and shoulders of the riverbank, it winds for ninety miles. Craftsmen, masons, engineers, and many other workers, produced the highway that has become a world class transportation corridor.
At the east end, a winding highway curls in upon itself, climbing to Rowena Crest, where the view upriver is superb. But here at the west end, as this picture shows, is a place that is called Crown Point. It is fitting that early designers felt that a monument, Vista House, should be constructed here. Visitors have been coming here since the highway was opened to see the artistic works and historic interpretations of the highway itself. As time went on, it was greatly weathered, but a restoration project of the last two years has returned it to its former grandeur. Once again people may stop and view the gorge laid out before them and look closely at Vista House.
Many things come and go; products of changing times and ideas. Some things are as transient as the yellow maple leaves that fall around us on this October day. Some things live on in our memories; sunrises, wind in our hair, green timbered hillsides, tall rock columns, and most of all, our Columbia River Gorge.
