History of Crown Point
By Curt Cunningham

Crown Point is a basalt promontory on the Columbia River Gorge and is located approximately 15 miles east of Portland and about 60 miles west of The Dalles. Crown Point is one of the scenic lookouts along the Historic Columbia River Highway, providing a panoramic view of the Columbia River for many miles up and down the river. The main feature of Crown Point is the Vista House.

Completed in 1918 it was known as the crown jewel of the Columbia Gorge. Vista House is a rest stop, museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the gorge. It also serves as a memorial to the pioneers of Oregon. It is now a state park called the Crown Point-Vista House Scenic Corridor which is at the beginning of the most scenic part of the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Crown Point

In the October 20, 1920 edition of the Oregon Daily Journal written by Fred Lockley, is an article about the history of Crown Point. The story begins with Lorens Lund who had taken up the land where Vista House is located as a homestead in 1878. In 1920 he was the caretaker of the Vista House.

Ed Dlmmitt, the scenic photographer and "philosopher of Crown Point," sat down with Lorens Lund and Fred Lockley for a little chat at the Vista House. "I came up from Portland on the old river steamer Caliope in the summer of 1878." said Lund. "In those days the river was our only road, a sort of liquid highway whose surface never required repairs. We landed at the foot of Rooster Rock. A man named George Norval had taken up 120 acres, his claim consisting of three forties in a line, the Columbia River forming his northern boundary."

"There were no roads. He had only three acres cleared. It didn't look as if the place would ever be accessible in his lifetime, so he relinquished his homestead right to me for $350. My wife and I with our baby moved at once onto the homestead and five years later I proved up on it. I found that on my 120 acres there was 50 acres of ragged, broken land of no value and today that rugged, worthless land is what people are coming across the continent to see."

"In those days the steamer came up every other day, stopping on signal at Rooster Rock. I bought my supplies in Portland and walked over the trail to Sandy and from there over an excellent wagon road to Portland. This 22 mile walk usually took the best part of a day. I stayed over a day in Portland and walked back the following day. The trip took me three days and now I make the round trip in around three hours. The year after I came a road was built down the hill to Van Scyvers landing. They call it Corbett now."

"When I took up Crown Point you could buy all the land you wanted here and hereabouts for $5 an acre. Now I get $500 an acre for it. The oldest settler up this way was Joseph Latourelle, who came to Latourelle falls in the 1850s. Larkin Russell's place joined me on the east and N. F. Ross on the west. Jim Dever and Jim Beneflel who were here when I took up my place, are still there. Joseph Hiney and Bill Wash were here in those days as well as John Littlepage and John Hurlburt, whose son is at present Sheriff of Multnomah county."

"Do you see that island just below us? That is Reed island. It was taken up by a man named Reed, who died about six months ago. I have done well here. I was born in Denmark on December 31, 1854, and came to America at the age of 17. Since I came here I have had 5 children, my land has increased from $5 to $500 an acre in value. I sold the county 6 acres for $2,200 some time ago. I also sold Margaret Henderson an acre for her place, Crown Point Chalet, (Others say it was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wiseman) and I have sold small tracts to various other people. Where one or two people a year used to come here when I took up the place, now, on a pleasant Sunday we often have 25,000."

"The highway was finished as far as Crown Point in August 1915," said Mr. Dlmmitt. "Vista House is one of the most appreciated and valuable assets of the county and the state. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit it and carry away photographs of it and of the views from here it is helping to spread the fame of the scenic beauty of the Columbia River Highway all over the world. It cost about $100,000, but I believe most people consider the money well spent. It is in harmony with the substantial nature of our magnificent highway. On Sundays and holidays we often have from 4,500 to 5,000 cars pass around the Vista House circle." 

William Johnson, who was met at the approach to the Vista house circle, said; "I have noticed license tags from every state in the union, Oregon, California and Washington cars predominate, the Middle Western states being a close second. Most of the transcontinental tourists carry their camping equipment with them. A considerable number are making the national parks circuit, and the highways are making better Americans of our citizens, for they are seeing for the first time what a diversified and productive country we have."

Crown Point Chalet

"Big house big house!" shouted a boy as he gawked and stumbled along behind, to his father in the family wagon, which was passing Crown Point on the Columbia River Highway. "What house is it," queried the father, who had not yet noticed it. "King's house, king's house, king's house up there," replied the boy pointing at the Crown Point chalet. And therein is a story of the vision and work of a woman, The power to look ahead and the courage and will to do, are the unfailing key to success. These traits are usually ascribed to men. But there are women who sometimes see farther ahead and display more courage and purpose than many men. Crown Point Chalet was estimated by many good judges in 1918 to be worth $75,000. To its physical assets there is to be added the growing world importance of the Columbia River Highway.

The Crown Point Chalet was a premier stop for the tourists on the Columbia River Highway who were looking for a bite to eat. Over the years during its existence many travelers some who were famous had dined there. The chalet was owned by Margaret  E, Henderson

In 1912, before anybody had thought of the Columbia River Highway, she interested another to become a partner with her in establishing the Chanticleer Inn. There was no paved road to Portland then. It was more than 20 miles from Portland, and in winter the old wagon road was almost impassable. But the enterprise was founded on the faith of Henderson in what part the unmatched artistry in the Columbia gorge would ultimately play in human affairs. It was a year later that agitation for the Columbia River Highway began. Who knows what part Chanticleer Inn may have played in directing thought to the scheme? 

The partnership at Chanticleer was unsatisfactory, and in 1914 Henderson built the Latourelle chalet which was also known as the Falls Chalet. Barely 6 months after the new chalet opened for business, at 2pm in the afternoon of January 23, 1915, when everything was in readiness for a big dinner party, the chalet caught fire and burned to the ground.

But out of the flames of one chalet was to arise another and finer chalet during the summer of 1915. This new chalet was perched on Crown Point above the Columbia River Highway the distance of a city block from the Vista House, the finest viewpoint on the Columbia River. Margaret Henderson, who originated the celebrated Chanticleer Inn and who ran the Falls Chalet, was the proprietor of the new Crown Point Chalet, as the new wayside inn was to be called.

Most women would have found the loss of their business property an almost insuperable obstacle but not Henderson. Although her Falls Chalet which was no small investment was burned to the ground, and the fire took the roof from over her head and wiped out a year's supply of homemade jams, jellies and the like, she proceeded without a single second's loss of time to make plans for a new place of business. The embers of the Falls Chalet were scarce cold before she tackled the task of financing a new venture.

Day after day she put the proposition up to Portland business people. Doggedly and pluckily she made her arrangements and plans to such a good end that work of clearing the site began Saturday March 27, 1915, and the first load of lumber, was taken to Crown Point on Monday the 29th. Henderson did not stop just because the means had been found to put up the building, but had moved out to the site personally to supervise the work of construction. She lived in a tent and with her assistants they provided for the carpenters who worked on the chalet.

The land itself for the chalet was donated by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wiseman (A contradiction from Lorens Lund's account.) and construction was financed largely by Henderson selling dinner tickets to be valid after the chalet was completed. She had raised over $2,500 from this endeavor. The total cost for the Crown Point Chalet was about $5,000 and it was a two-story building of the bungalow type. F. D. Axtel, a Gresham contractor, who had extensive experience in constructing buildings along the Columbia, was the builder, and the chalet was put up with special reference to protection from the winds that sweep through the river gorge.

On June 20, 1915 the Crown Point Chalet was opened for business. It quickly became a popular stop for tourists driving the Columbia River Highway although the highway had not yet begun to develop any great tourist travel owing to its uncompleted condition at that time. The chalet was situated so it looked out to wards Rooster Rock. Its position made it possible for one to get the sight of both the magnificent sunrise and the sunset on the Columbia. The dining room was equipped with a hardwood floor for dancing and the entire chalet had been beautifully furnished.

Twelve thousand dinners were served there in 1917. Notables from all over had basked in its hospitality. A cuckoo clock in the reception room was a surprise gift by the Rockefeller's who visited the place. A president, ex-presidents of the United States, governors, senators and cabinet officers have all broken bread at Crown Point chalet and came away with loud words of praise. The place was the home of the artistic. Nature gave it the crowning setting of all the beauty spots in the Columbia gorge.

Henderson was once a window dresser in a big Portland department store and the artist's taste that won her undisputed supremacy in that field was applied in the development of the big chalet. There were open porches and enclosed sun porches, lined with potted flowers and ferns, all with a color scheme of delicate harmony. There were sun perched dining rooms and banquet halls with a combined capacity of 300 guests at one sitting. A hundred dinner guests on a holiday or Sunday was a common occurrence.

The place had its own ice plant and its own electric laundry. Every dollar earned was promptly spent in adding new features. And throughout it all, no matter how many guests, the salient and conspicuous drawing that the growing business had not destroyed in the slightest was the strictly home style cooking. Behind the scenes in this story was a woman's vision and a woman's purpose and a woman's work. Many a time Henderson toiled up the steep hill at Crown Point with a heavy load of provisions on her back.

Many a dinner guest at the cheerful Little chalet in the early days did not know that much of the food served had been carried two or three miles through the winter's mud by the hostess in order that the tempting meal might be spread before them. The whole roof of the chalet was blown off in one winter storm. At another time during a winter's snowstorm. Henderson was almost blown off the point by the heavy wind and had to crawl a long distance through the snow to get to safety.

The Winter Storm of 1916

During January of 1916 there was a terrible snowstorm which had made the roads impassible leading to Crown Point. Families living in the vicinity of the scenic viewpoint were stormbound and were in a precarious condition, said Margaret Henderson, whose thrilling escape through the snowdrifts was told to the Oregon Daily Journal on February 7, 1916; "The roads are absolutely impassable," said Henderson; "The drifts in places are more than 15 feet deep. Some of the families on the ridge near Crown Point are poor." 

"The storm caught them without provisions for this siege. There are little children and they are suffering from want of food. There is sickness and they cannot be reached for medical attention. Some of the livestock have already died from want of water. An emergency exists in the name of humanity and something must be done. The opening of one road will relieve the situation and permit provisions to be gotten to the people. The responsibility certainly rests upon the county administration."

"The county commissioners are quoted as saying that no money is available to clear the roads of snow. This is but an excuse. In this rich county of Multnomah there is no scarcity of funds that innocent children and the sick should suffer and all know hunger. If the county officials should take the leadership I am sure the men in the communities of the vicinity would volunteer their services. The opening of the road to the railroad, a distance of four or five miles, would serve the immediate necessity, for then food could be shipped in."

"You people down in Portland know nothing of winter. You think you have been having a real Cold spell. But let me tell you that the storm at Crown Point a few mornings ago was so terrific that when the man who works at my place tried to get wood from the woodpile, 15 feet from the house, he was blown from his feet by the wind and his head and face were cut by the driving snow and ice and by the fall. In front of another house the snow drifted so that the residents had to tunnel through to get to light and air. Some of the barns were crushed by the weight of the snow."

"We don't have Chinook winds like you do in Portland. When it was Chinook weather there, we still had the east wind and a silver thaw." Henderson came Sunday February 6th from the Crown Point Chalet to Corbett, a distance of 5 miles, accompanied by a little child 4 years old, she dragged the little child on a blanket over the drifts, and was aided by a caretaker who worked at the chalet.

Wedding at Crown Point

On Saturday July 8, 1916 a wedding was held at Crown Point The artistic temperament of Leah Jones prompted her to start her married life in one of the most artistic settings that could be found, so she chose the crest of Crown Point. It was that Saturday that Leah Jones and Benjamin Russell, both of Portland, stood on Crown Point and were married by Rev. Alexander Beers, pastor of the First Free Methodist Church. Accompanied by her mother, sister and brother-in-law besides her husband-to-be and the minister.

Jones drove out on the highway in the early evening. It was 7pm when the ceremony was performed, when the sun was setting in a blaze of red. Rev. Beers said that the view was inspiring. He said that he had traveled many places but had never seen such a beautiful sunset. "The river looked like a thread of gold," was his enthusiastic remark. After the ceremony had been performed the party drove to Multnomah and Horse Tail Falls and returned to the Crown Point Chalet, where the wedding supper awaited them. Mr. Russell was connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad.

The End Days of the Crown Point Chalet

By the late 1920's Henderson's health began to fail which caused her to put the chalet up for sale in 1927. After the chalet was sold she moved to Portland and opened up a small restaurant on Alder Street. Margaret Henderson would pass from this earth 3 years later in 1930 at the age of 58 from a chronic kidney infection. In the 1950's the long-vacant and deteriorated Crown Point Chalet would be demolished.

The Hotel and Pavilion at Crown Point

Crown Point was at first a city park with a promenade, the site having been given to the city by Osman Royal. But on the October 3, 1915 an announcement was made in the Oregonian that a grand hotel and pavilion was to be built at Crown Point. While the pavilion would be constructed, (Vista House), for reasons unknown the hotel was not. Around the horseshoe curve at the face of the cliff 725 feet above the Columbia River, was to be a great tourist hotel. Announcement of this project was made on October 2, 1915 by Samuel C. Lancaster, the engineer who designed and built the highway.

Lancaster made the announcement on behalf of  R. T. Dabney, of Portland, who intended to erect the most remarkable tourist hotel in the world on the outer edge of the point. Dabney was a wealthy retired lumberman of Aberdeen, WA, who had extensive lumber and other property investments there as well as in Portland. He had lived in Portland since 1905, and was a member of the Dabney Investment Company. Dabney bought the rock ledge and other property around Crown Point in 1915, outside of the highway right of way.

He conferred with Lancaster as to the engineering practicability of putting up a hotel on this property. At first Lancaster gave him small encouragement, for the project did not appear feasible. After a careful study of the subject and a conference with Edgar M. Lazarus architect, who suggested the lines on, which the hotel could be built so as to enhance instead of detracting from the beauty of the point, and revealed the great possibilities of the undertaking.

Detailed Plans Being Prepared.

Lazarus then began preparing the detailed plans for the structure. He had already made the drawings showing the completed project. (see photos of Crown Point) The hotel, which would have cost between $150,000  and $200,000, according to the estimates, would have extended in a great "L" for more than 500 feet around two sides, the north and east of the horseshoe bend in the highway. It was not supposed to interfere with the wonderful view from the highway at Crown Point, where the gorge of the Columbia River is visible for miles in either direction, for the tops of the hotel buildings were to be from 20 to 30 feet below the level of the road.

It was Dabney's intention to have work on "Dabney Cliffs," begin as the hotel was to be called, early in the Spring, of 1915 and to have it ready for its formal opening at the beginning of the 1916 Summer tourist season. One remarkable feature in connection with the hotel, perched on its rock eminence 725 feet above the river, was to be an incline railway up the side of the cliff from the O. W. R. & N. station at Rooster Rock to the Columbia River Highway above, just east of Crown Point. This incline railway was to be similar to the one up Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Cars to Make Trip Quickly.

The vertical lift at Lookout Mountain is 1,500 feet, while the vertical lift to the terminus selected on the highway was going be only about half that distance, or 750 feet. Each car was to have a capacity of 30 passengers and the trip up the cliff was only to be two minutes long. The cars were to be equipped with a device that would grip the rail automatically should they start backward, which would have made a runaway accident impossible. The incline railway would have connected with all trains of the O. W. R. & N., and arrangements would have been made for operating special trains from Portland whenever traffic demanded it.

An overhead crossing would have connected the incline railway with the sand beach at the south shore of the Columbia River, east of Rooster Rock. This beach was regarded as one of the best, if not the best, on the Columbia River. Boating facilities would have been provided where the creek enters the Columbia. Lazarus, in his plans for the hotel had adopted the perpendicular Tudor Gothic style of architecture for the hotel building, which presented a problem that had to be handled in a new bold and original form.

"The building will be constructed of reinforced concrete, and will be fitted with every comfort essential to the care for the best class of tourist hotel," said Lazarus on October 2nd; "At the same time Mr. Dabney proposes to care for the general public with a high class cafeteria service at popular prices in one of the units of the building apart from the main structure. The hotel proper will be built in three units, for necessary lounge, reception and dining rooms, both public and private."

"An overhead crossing will connect the incline railway with the sand beach on the south shore of the Columbia River, east of Rooster Rock. This beach is regarded as one of the best, if-- not the best, on the Columbia River. The creek which enters the Columbia at this point provides boating facilities. Mr. Lazarus, in his plans for the hotel has adopted the perpendicular Tudor Gothic style of architecture for the hotel building, which presented a problem that had to be handled in a new. bold and original form."

"Extensive balconies and terraces front the cliffs. A museum, ballroom and moving picture theater, music-room, with organ lofts, have been provided. There are to be superior bedroom accommodations, each bedroom to be fitted with private bath. About 75 bedrooms are planned. The entire area of the three units of the building is to be topped with roof gardens, the level of which will be from 20 to 30 feet below the highway, thus affording accommodation for several thousand persons without obstructing the view or enjoyment of those on the highway above."

"All odors from cooking and the like will be removed by exhaust fans and ventilating ducts to the vent stack of the boiler house, which is to be located several hundred feet from the highway proper. The boiler house will contain the mechanical equipment, with high pressure boilers, ventilating, apparatus and engines and ventilators for light and power purposes for the building and grounds. The main dining-room of the hotel was to be 85 by 60 feet in dimensions, and this did not include the several private dining-rooms. The cafeteria, which was to comprise the east and shorter front of the "L," was to be 60 by 35 feet.

Huge Pipe Organ Was Planned.

The museum, ballroom and music room combined was to be 60 by 30 feet, with a stage 15 feet wide by 8 feet deep at one end. At the opposite end was to be a great pipe organ. This music room and pipe organ would have constituted a unique and very striking feature of the hotel. William Mansell Wilder, who designed and supervised the construction of the organ in the White Temple in Portland, was the designer of this organ and its specifications, and was to have superintend its erection.

Wilder had been directed not to consider expense. He had already outlined plans for an organ that was to be one of the most magnificent in this country, that would have had features never before combined with an organ. "The environment of the organ is so original and peculiar to itself." said Mr. Wilder, "that the design and specifications are a great problem. The organ will be placed in a room that commands a water view of 30 miles in each direction, with an extended view of the Cascade Range one way and looking toward the sunset the other way. It was felt that the organ should be able to express the symbolism of nature by which it is surrounded and to interpret the vision that the eye takes in."

Delicate Stops to Be Abundant.

"The first design of the organ is to have one that will be thoroughly conventional, and at the same time capable of playing all classical compositions, so that the most technical organist will have everything with which to express his thoughts. Also because of the environment. It was realized that it must have a wealth of tone color. In addition to the conventional specifications. It will be a four or five-manual instrument, and will have every mechanical accessory of the modern organ."

"One special feature of the specifications will be its wealth of soft tone color. Instead of having one or two delicate stops, it will have many, and some that have never been placed in an organ before. A spectacular feature will be a set of pipes and a blowing apparatus to be placed in a concrete house some 700 feet below the hotel, and probably at a distance of half a mile at the foot of a ravine. These pipes will be played by means or an electric cable from one of the balconies of the hotel, or from the console of the organ."

"The pipes will be so powerfully voiced that they can be heard from two to three miles up or down me river. They will play melodies and awaken echoes in a manner never before heard, and the distance will be the greatest from which an organ has ever been manipulated in the world. Still another spectacular feature of the pipe organ on the outside will be a peal of heavy bells, the largest of which will weigh several thousand pounds. These bells will be in a tower by themselves outside the main building. They will be played exclusively at the sunset hour, and will chime at no other time."

"A very rare unit of the organ will be "the Voice of the Firs," one of slow wind vibration that can be used with any delicate stop in the organ. A stop very seldom heard, even in the largest organs, will be the violsourdine (a united "cello). Another unit of rare beauty will be an orchestral oboe or slim scale, which is of such pathetic quality that it will be one of the wonder stops of the organ. Still another stop of novelty will be the concert harp. The chimes of this organ will be a graduates scale so carefully made that they will be a revelation in tone color to every one who hears them."

"The architectural plan of the hotel was to harmonize with that of a pavilion, (Vista House) plans, for which have also been made by Lazarus at the request of Lancaster and Roadmaster John B. Yeon, which was to be built on the peak of Crown Point, the space enclosed within the horseshoe described by the highway at this place, which had been dedicated to the City of Portland for park purposes. Under what arrangements this pavilion will be built had not been settled, though Lancaster said the suggestion was made that it would be done by public subscription."

Pavilion to Be of Concrete.

The Tudor Gothic architecture of the pavilion lends itself to the calm effect of broad surfaces in connection with the massive prominence of its principal parts, which is analogous to the cliffs themselves. The lines are in entire keeping with the rugged landscape. The pavilion, which will combine the Isle of Safety, an observatory and public comfort station is to be fitted to the horseshoe plan of Crown Point. It will be built of reinforced concrete. The first floor and a gallery extending all around it will be used for observation purposes. Broad flights of stairs descend to the restrooms and lavatories in the basement.

A passageway will connect the pavilion with the highway below. Descending another flight of steps and passing underneath the highway through a tunnel, another passageway was to lead to the roof gardens on top of the hotel buildings. These roof gardens were to be extensive and made attractive with gravel walks and gardens of flowers and from them an unobstructed view in all directions would have been be obtained.

Plans For Vista House Announced

Although the hotel would never be constructed, on January 1, 1915 plans for the construction of the pavilion was announced. The Vista House as was to be called was to serve 2 splendid purposes; 1) It was to complete the most picturesque scenic highway in the world. 2) It is to memorialize the heroism and purpose of the early pioneers who were stopped at the east end of the gorge of the Columbia River and were compelled to float past the barrier that has been opened to automobile travel. It is to be a beautiful structure of concrete, steel, copper and glass, and a rest-house for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who made use of the Columbia River Highway during the Summers, and it will occupy the highest point reached by the drive, where for 35 miles in easterly or westerly directions the traveler may take in views of the wonderful combination of color and of form.

The plan for Vista House called for an octagonal building, approached by a series of wide steps which completely surround the structure. Wide entrances on four aides admit visitors to an interior where comfortable seats will entice a restful hour. Memorial windows and wall panels will tell the story of the development of Oregon, from the days of Indian habitation to the period of history when a progressive people discovered that the most wonderful scenic district of America was lying undeveloped at their front door, and immediately appropriated $1,250.000 to secure a glimpse of it.

The tablets will provide study in themselves, and to the stranger will relate some of the splendid incidents of the early history of Oregon. Stairways will ascend to a mezzanine floor or gallery in the interior of the building, from which an outside gallery may be reached. The promenade adds distance to the views. From the main floor stairs lead to a basement, where comfort stations are to be installed. A tunnel will connect the basement floor with the highway on the lower side of the hill. The total cost of Vista House was estimated to be $20,000, and it was proposed to raise a large proportion of the money through public subscription.

The highway itself was constructed from money raised through a bond issue. Vista House will be the first the public has had to help the magnificent scheme and at the same time do something toward a lasting and perpetual remembrance of the pioneers. It is worthy and a splendid memorial. It will be the finishing touch to the greatest scenic asset of the Pacific Northwest. The officers and original membership of the Vista House Association were;

H. L. Pittock president; William J, Piepenbrink, secretary; Adolphe Wolfe, tresurer; Julius I. Meier, Samuel C. Lancaster, O. M. Clark, J. C. Ainsworth, Amos- S. Benson, John B. Yeon, C. C. Colt, William F. Woodward, H. R. Albee, Frank C. Riggs, George E. Hardy, Charles F. Berg, J. C. English, George L. Haker. K. E. Coovert, F. E. Taylor, H. C. Campbell, C. C. Overmire, F. W. Robinson. Rufus C. Holman, Mark Woodruff, J. H. Dundore, Fred Spoeri, William Whitfield, W. D. Whitcomb, N. G. Pike, Joseph P. Jaeger, R. Blaine Hallock, J. H. Joyce, George H. Himes. W. H. Barton, Ira L. Riggs, Paul Chamberlain, W. J. Hofmann, Marshall K. Dana, F. B. Norman, William C. Tunks, Aaron Frank. L. R. Alderman, D. A. Dinsmoor, J. E. Werlein, L. A. Spangler, J. W. Brewer and Lee Arnett.

The Vista House Groundbreaking Ceremony

On June 8, 1916 the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Vista House was held promptly at 5pm Pacific time. At the same time President Wilson touched an electric button at Washington DC, and a large American flag was unfurled on Crown Point. The site of the Vista House, and the great Columbia River Highway had became a project of National significance. Immediately 48 salutes, one for each of the states, were fired by Battery "A" of the Oregon National Guard, and the thousands of celebrants joined in a vigorous demonstration.

It was a fitting climax to the formal opening of the highway and marked the beginning of the construction of Vista House, a monument to be erected and dedicated to the memory of the pioneers of the Pacific Northwest. Following the dedicatory exercises at Multnomah Falls, Rose Queen Muriel and her retinue were escorted to Crown Point, arriving in time to participate in a short formal program before the hour set for the unfurling of the flag. With the arrival of the royal party, short addresses were made, and then H. L. Pittock. president of the Vista House Association, turned over the first shovelful of earth and preparatory construction on the project.

Site is Christened.

On the freshly turned earth Queen Muriel showered petals of roses and King Joy (Tlll D. Taylor) poured a bottle of loganberry juice, the distinctive Oregon temperance beverage. Then followed the unfurling of the flag.  it was a brief but impressive ceremony. The perfect weather and the spirit of the celebrants were in full accord. Unobstructed views for 35 miles up and down the Columbia Gorge from the Vista House site added to the success of the occasion. In a sense, it broadened the vision of the visitors as to the importance of the day. It seemed to give them an opportunity to look afar and back and to recall many incidents of pioneer days. That was the motif of the occasion to honor the memory of the early settlers. That was the text of each of the speakers.

Frederick V. Holman, one of Portland's oldest practicing attorneys, paid a high tribute to the pioneers. He briefly reviewed incidents of the Oregon country from the time of the Lewis and Clark expedition up to the period before the coming of the railroads. "We cannot realize what the early pioneers had to endure," said Mr. Holman. "It is because of their sufferings and hardships that the foundation of a strong citizenship here was laid. We cannot do them too much honor. It is fitting that we today are creating a monument that will perpetuate their memory."

Governor Praises Builder.

Governor Withycombe directed the attention of the celebrants to the beautiful panorama spreading for many miles beyond and up and down the river. "Such a view is beyond description," said the Governor. "It is inspiring. It will do more than anything else to impress people and to inspire them to do helpful, constructive things. All hail to Samuel C. Lancaster, to whose guiding genius the Columbia River Highway was made passable." Other addresses were made by Adolph Wolfe, Marshall Dana, Mayor Albee and Raymond D. Hill. Each emphasized the importance of the Vista House and praised the purposes for which it was to be built.

For unfurling the flag the same guillotine was used, to cut the cord that was in service when the battleship Oregon was launched. A direct wire from Crown Point to the Capitol at Washington. DC  was in operation when President Wilson pushed the button that released the guillotine. Over this same wire Governor Withycombe dispatched a message to President Wilson, conveying the thanks of the citizens of Oregon for the President's participation in the dedication. The message was as follows; "The people of the Oregon country greet you and thank you for unfurling the flag of freedom on Crown Point, Columbia River Highway, as we dedicate to the world the greatest highway ever built."

Oregon Battery Fires Salute.

Participation of Battery "A" Oregon National Guard, lent interest to the occasion. As the loud salutes resounded through the gorge a patriotic touch was felt, and the celebrants joined in the salute by waving their hats and clapping their hands, and the din was increased by the shrill sounds of automobile horns. Music at the Crown Point ceremonies was furnished by the band from the Benson Polytechnic Institute. W. E. Conklin. secretary of the Vista House association, had direct charge of the program. A Vista House builders book had been prepared. It contains the names of all individual contributors to the building fund. Mayor Albee, who signed it yesterday, was the first to attach his signature to the book.

The Vista House Dedication

On May 5, 1918 the Vista house was opened for visitors and a dedication ceremony was held which was attended by about 2,000 people. Gertrude Hall Denny, raised an American flag over the Vista house to the accompaniment of "The Star Spangled Banner." The raising of the flag was the final act in the formal ceremony of dedicating the new structure at Crown Point, on the Columbia River Highway, to the memory of the pioneers of Oregon.

Two thousand persons participated in the dedicatory ceremonies, which were conducted under the auspices of the Vista House association, assisted by the Royal Rosarians. Weather conditions were Ideal, the rays of the sun being cooled by the breeze sweeping through the gorge of the Columbia and occasionally blanketed by errant clouds. A detachment of the Multnomah Guard had been detailed to preserve order, and there was no confusion or congestion either on the road or at the scene of the ceremony. The exercises, which lasted one hour, began at 3pm with a musical selection by the Royal Rosarian band. Then came the dedicatory address by Frank Branch Riley, who was introduced by Mayor George Baker.

Memorial Formally Dedicated

In well chosen words. Mr. Riley dedicated the memorial to that noble band of men and women, living and dead. who, following the setting sun, had reached the farthest west. There will be no more pioneers, he said, because beyond the ocean intervenes and west becomes east again. In responding to the dedicatory address. Frederick V. Holman, president of the Oregon Historical society, reviewed the emigration of 1843 as one of the chief factors which brought about the settlement of the Oregon question. It demonstrated, he said, that wagons and oxen could penetrate beyond old Fort Hall.

Roadmaster Is Goat.

J. B. Yeon, county roadmaster, under whose direction the Vista House was built, was introduced as the "goat" by Mayor Baker, who said that the city government, to which had donated the ground on which the structure stood, had passed the responsibility of construction to the county in order to escape criticism. "If we had built the Vista House on its present lines." he said. "they would have hanged us." Roadrnaster Yeon rehearsed some of the difficulties met in prosecuting the work. Referring to criticisms, he said: "For such a good cause, I am willing to be the goat."

Flower Girls Lead Pioneers.

Then came the crowning event of the day. Six small girls, clad in white, passed between two lines of Royal Rosarians scattering rose leaves as they walked. They were followed by four veterans carrying a large American flag. After the flag came H. L. Pittock. president of the Vista House association, accompanied by three pioneer women and survivors of the Whitman massacre. These were; Gertrude Hall Denny, Elizabeth Sager Helm and Nancy Osborne Jacobs. Amidst the strains of "The Star Spangled Banner," and with hats off, the flag was drawn up the tall flag pole to its peak. The veterans bearing the flag were:; J. M. Kelly, J. W. Marquis, John Cook and R. B. Wilmot. The flower girls were; Roberta and Fredricka Leadbetter, Rhoda and Georgiana Gantenbein., Florence May Miles, Serena Morrison, Mary Marie Ambree, Margaret Krohn, Mahala Ettinger, Hazel Allyn and Harriet Hofmann.

A leading part in the advancement of the Vista House project had been taken by W. E. Conklin, vice president of the Vista House association, who presided at the dedication. When Samuel C. Lancaster, engineer of the highway. conceived the idea of an observation point and comfort station at Crown Point in connection with the R. P. Dabney's plans for a large tourist hotel just under the summit, Mr. Conklin suggested the organization of an association to raise the funds and contributed the first dollar in payment of dues. This dollar was placed in the Oregon Historical museum. Conklin was in charge of arrangements for that Sunday's program, assisted by W. J. PiepenbrInk, C. C. Colt, I. L. Riggs, Colonel John Hibberd, E. E. Rattell, O. M. Smith and Gertrude Elizabeth McCarren who was in charge of publicity.

VIP's Tour the Columbia River Highway

The Historic Columbia River Highway has seen its share of important people who while visiting the Pacific Northwest for various reasons all seemed to make time to tour the old highway. One of the first of these notables was Rabbi Stephen S. Wise who in November of 1915 electrified one of the largest audiences ever assembled for an Oregon Civic league meeting at the Multnomah Hotel where he pleaded an appeal for peace, denounced war and predicted that military preparedness will inevitably bring war.

He also predicted that the United States would go to war with Japan. He said; "There will be war with Japan, war with Japan, I say, unless we of America learn to consider ourselves gentlemen in dealing with Japan. We do not have to consider whether the Japanese will be gentlemen in dealing with us, they are that now." He suggested three conditions under which war would cease; "When nations cease to prepare for war. When imperialism is thrown into the discard, and when women become a factor in the government of nations, and when they refuse to become the mothers of sons that are to be dedicated to the murder and slaughter of war."

The Navy Tours the Highway

One of the special events during the 1916 Portland Rose Festival were the many sightseeing excursions up the Columbia River Highway, which in many cases terminated with a dinner or luncheon, at Henderson's Crown Point Chalet. On Wednesday June 7, 1916 the Columbia River Highway was officially dedicated and a continuous string of cars motored along the road. For the officers of the U. S. navy who were in the city for the occasion a dinner was arranged at the Crown Point Chalet which was long remembered and heralded afterwards in many cities by the visitors, among the many assets and glories of the new highway.

The table was cleverly decorated with small, drab hued, toy battleships rocking in a rough sea of blue silk. The vivid blue larkspur, which were blooming along the highway, formed the floral decorations of the table and about the rooms of the chalet. In the ballroom great clusters of the flowers were arranged with vine maple and other greenery from the woods and in the dining room, clusters of the flowers centered the table and were arranged in hanging baskets overhead.

The visitors table was set on the upper porch, off the ballroom, which had been enclosed in glass that year and gave a marvelous view up and down the Columbia gorge, which was enjoyed along with the famous chicken  dinner. Circling the table were;

John R. Reall, Arthur I. Fish, C. W. Huntington, J. Fred Larson and John K. Carroll from the Chamber of Commerce; Commander George W. Williams, USN commanding the USS Oregon; Commander C. M. Tozer, USN, commanding the cruiser USS South Dakota; Lieutenant Edison E. Cranston, USN commanding the USS Marblehead; Lieutenant W. A. Smead, executive officer; Forrest M. Harrison, USN assistant surgeon; Paymaster F. K. Perkins, USN; Lieutenant William C. Tooze, Naval Militia. Captain Lieutenant John H. VVilley, commanding Fourth division, Naval Militia. California, all from the USS Oregon; and from the USS South Dakota, Paymaster Grey Skipwith, USN; Assistant Surgeon C. L. Wood, USN; Lieutenant O. O. Hagen, Junior grade, USN, ordnance and navigator; Lieutenant F. B. Melendy, USN, and Lieutenant E. D. Almy, Junior Grade, USN; from the Oregon Naval Militia, Lieutenant Commander G. F. Blair, Lieutenant J. A. Beckwith and Ensign George H. Jut.

Chambers Motor Car Company

In the summer of 1916 Hugh Chambers, president of the Chambers Motor Car Co. toured the highway. Chambers was one of the most enthusiastic and efficient boosters of the Columbia River Highway. Chambers wrote in many publications which included photos of some of the scenic points along the highway. One edition of the Chambers Co. publication called the Chambers Clubman was devoted entirely to the great scenic drive. He said; "Globe trotting Americans have loud sung the praises of Europe's scenic roadways. They tell of dizzy climbs among the Alps. They glory in the grandeur of the Axenstrasse, and the land of the Riviera has not been slighted. "But when you have motored over Oregon's Columbia River Highway, you will appreciate the watchword, See America First."

Secretary of the Interior

During October of 1917 US Secretary of the Interior Franklin K. Lane paid a visit to Portland and toured the highway. "Superb!" exclaimed Secretary Lane, when he saw the vast sweep of the Columbia from Crown Point on the morning of the 12th, with the mist lifting through sunshine to climb the palisades of rock. "What could I say of the Columbia River Highway that has not already been said?" he added, where Multnomah Falls tumbles in cascades of spray. "As a scenic highway it is unsurpassed, that is evident; and the engineering of it is in keeping with the scenery." At Crown Point, in company with Samuel Lancaster, builder of the highway, and John B. Yeon, roadmaster, the Secretary explored the Vista House, which was under construction at the time. Lane expressed his admiration of the "beautiful modeling and coloration."

President Wilson Visits Crown Point

President Wilson toured the Columbia River Highway as far as Crown Point in September of 1919. The viewpoint was magnificent in the beauty of a perfect autumn day. Some 50 automobiles containing the members of the president's party and the Oregon reception committee, swung across Portland's Broadway bridge and traversed to the east side, and then drove to Sandy boulevard at a lively clip, with an occasional slowing down at points where large crowds had collected. The presidential party left Portland at 10am and a short stop was made at Vista House where the President and his wife had the opportunity to see the panorama of the Columbia.

When the outskirts of the city were reached a speed of between 20 and 25 miles an hour was maintained until Crown Point was reached, the only slowing down being at Parkrose where the school children had gathered in a large group at the roadside and had waited, flags in hand, to greet the national executive. At the request of the president the cars were slowed down slightly in passing this point. The ride through Troutdale and up the Sandy river and then to Crown Point gave the president and Mrs. Wilson a vista of Oregon scenery pictured in all the beauty of a perfect autumnal day. 

The president and Mrs. Wilson did hot leave their car, but remained seated while the Oregon folk crowded to meet them. Mayor Baker stood beside the car and introduced as many of the reception committee as time would allow to Mrs. Wilson, while those who wanted to greet the president formed in a line and passed by the other side of the car to shake the president's hand. "The grandest sight of my whole trip," was his comment as the president looked up and down the broad expanse of the Columbia river, unfolded from Crown Point.

Not much time was given the national executive and Mrs. Wilson for sightseeing, however, for a sea of Oregon people surged around the car as it was parked at Crown Point, and stations of vantage were soon occupied by newspaper photographers, who were busy registering the scene. Owing to the shortness or time, it being necessary to have the party back in Portland at 12:30pm, only but a few of those present were able to speak with the president before they were ready to start back. Mr. Wilson stood up in the car for a few moments, however, and acknowledged the warm greeting of the Oregon citizens, before starting on the return trip.

Unfortunately the return trip was saddened by an accident which occurred between Gresham and Linneman station, in which James R. Patterson, of Portland and Ben Allen, writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who was with the presidential party, were killed, and Stanley M. Reynolds of the Baltimore Sun seriously injured. Robert Small of the Philadelphia Ledger and Arthur D. Sullivan of the Portland News, the two other occupants of the car, escaped with slight injuries.

The accident occurred when Patterson's car was forced into a ditch at the side of the road in the effort to prevent a collision with the car of C. H. Barnett of Wasco, who had driven his car to the center of the road in an effort to turn his car around in the midst of the presidential procession. The car was near the center of the long procession and the president and his immediate party proceeded into town and did not receive news of the accident until some time later.

French War Hero Marshal Ferdinand Foch

On December 11, 1921 Marshal Ferdinand Foch, stood on the steps of the Vista house at Crown Point. He gazed for miles through the mists and driving rain down the Columbia River and its beauties, he then moved his eyes to behold the wonders of nature that stretched upward through the rugged gorge. "C'est beau, C'est beau," quietly remarked the Supreme Allied commander of World War I, to whom all thoughts were turned when the allies were fighting with their backs to the wall, and the fall of Paris seemed inevitable.

"It is beautiful" was the summary of the impression that the Columbia River Highway made upon Marshal Foch. When the suggestion was made the previous morning that the highway trip be called off on account of the inclement weather, the marshal of France would have none of it. He insisted on carrying out the program that had been prepared for his day in Portland, irrespective of weather conditions. After the school children of the city thousands strong had had an opportunity to observe the famous man's car, and occasionally through a guard of secret service men, policemen and veterans, catch a glimpse of the marshal, as the cars headed out over Sandy road.

Perhaps as the cars moved out over the highway to Troutdale Marshal Foch imagined that he was once more back upon the shell swept fields of his native France. The storms of a week ago had broken down telephone and telegraph poles, uprooted trees and left their marks of destruction everywhere. Then out from Troutdale and up the Sandy, the river now a raging torrent due to the flood waters from rains and melting snows. As the marshal's car reached the summit and stared down the steep toward the Vista House, he saw the real beauties that have made the highway famous.

For 2,000 feet and more he looked down the steep cliffs to the winding Columbia, He could not but marvel, but he concealed his thoughts, and it was not until Crown Point was reached that Marshal Foch voiced his sentiments with "C'est beau, C'est beau." Lunch was served for Marshal Foch and his immediate party at the Crown Point Chalet, while Franklin D'OlIer, commander of the American Legion; Colonel Frank Parker, of the 1st division, and others lunched at Chanticleer Inn.

Impatient because his driver had not arrived in time to pick him up and anxious to settle a hearty luncheon, the Marshal of France did not wait for his driver to return to the chalet for him but walked almost half way along the highway to the Chanticleer Inn, where he was picked up and the party started the return to Portland. As the cars left the-point on their journey back a fierce wind and rainstorm broke. Drivers had difficulty in keeping the road, due to the sheets of driving rain the motorcycle policemen were forced to abandon their efforts to keep up with the Marshal's car; and members of the party who were unfortunate enough to be in open cars were drenched to the skin. Marshal Foch has seen much rain for the climate of France which is much like that of Oregon, but his return over the Columbia River highway gave him a real taste of one of our "unusual Chinook winds."

Buick Motor Company

On April 2, 1922, H. H. Bassett, president of the Buick Motor Company visited Portland. When he arrived he was met by Buick dealers from Oregon who welcomed him to their state. Bassett was making a tour throughout the Pacific coast and was accompanied on his tour by E. T. Strong, general sales manager, and was also accompanied on the trip from San Francisco to Portland by R. F. Thompson, general manager of the Howard Automobile company.

On Monday April 4th the party traveled the Columbia River Highway to Crown Point where they were guests at the Crown Point chalet. They had lunch with about 50 Buick dealers from Washington and Oregon. The Buick president gave an optimistic talk on the automotive industry and about the Buick in particular. In opening his address, Bassett said, "Never have I tried to talk in a place where it was as difficult to concentrate on business as here. Your scenery is simply wonderful, as are also your roads, and I must also compliment you on your climate. I have been led to believe that there are but two seasons in Oregon, winter and August. I believe without question that, this is one of the finest days we have had since we left the factory last month. After their lunch the party left for the trip back to Portland.

Figure Eight Loops

Nature gave to Oregon and Washington the Columbia River Gorge. Oregon's citizenry seized the opportunity presented by the proximity of this mighty gateway through a mountain range and carved along the sides of the cliffs and hewed through the giant firs a scenic highway, which cannot be eclipsed anywhere in the world. The highway became a reality as it winds its way along the edges of precipices and past shadowy waterfalls, opening up a wealth of scenery which before it had scarcely been believed it would ever be accessible to the motorist.

Hundreds of thousands, from all parts of the globe, were traveling this roadway each year in an endless procession of automobiles, and others were coming, in increasing throngs, as the fame of the Columbia River Highway spread. Today they still come to see its beauty and splendor. After the highway was completed in 1921 there was still other work to do and it was as important as the construction of the roadway itself, this was that of keeping the beauty of the scenery safe from being destroyed by the wheels of progress. 

Making it a certainty that the Columbia River Gorge throughout many of its stretches along the highway would remain forever as it is now and as nature intended it to be, the trees untouched, the ferns and shrubbery, forever free from any devastation witch could be caused by coming in close contact with civilization, and to protect the beauties of the highway and particularly of that portion from Crown Point eastward to the farther end of the figure eight loops. The figure eight loops in the fall become a scene of beautiful colors from the autumn leaves and appear perhaps in more handsome garb than at at any other season. Nature alone had fashioned the picture. The highway had only opened the way through it. The cutting of a single tree or shrub unnecessarily would be a sacrilege.

Natural Beauty Impressive.

Any traveler over the Columbia River Highway today cannot help but be impressed with the touch of nature at every turn. They may not realize it perhaps, but one of the great joys of the trip is the fact that the trees still stand as they did in years gone by, the moss and ferns still grow undisturbed and the opening up of the highway did not bring with it a host of ugly billboards and unattractive buildings which too frequently follow in the wake of such improvement. Many were worried that this was only temporary and unless steps were taken some of the beauties of the highway would be bound to be destroyed forever by the encroachments of civilization.

There was only one way to make permanent the beauty of the highway as was the opinion of many of those who had positions in leadership in the building the highway and that was by public ownership of the sections which had not already come under county or state governmental jurisdiction. Fortunately through the purchase and through notable gifts by land owners a considerable portion of the historic highway will forever retain its natural and scenic beauty.

Many sections of the highway were already protected when the road was completed but many places remained in private hands and one of these places was the figure eight loops east of Crown Point. This stretch of the old highway is one of the engineering wonders of the road and without any doubt is one of the three or four most superb stretches on the entire highway. The beauty of this section, where trees, shrubs and ferns abound in their natural setting needs no description.

But before the land became protected there was a time when the "figure eight" had two signs posted upon private property near the edge of the highway, which informed passersby that here will be the "finest hotel on the highway." This in a word, told the story. Within one tract of 40 acres the highway twists and winds and doubles back upon itself in the descent from the high bluffs beyond Crown Point for a distance of 4,200 feet, this is the "figure eight." In 1920 nearly a mile of highway within one 40 acre tract of land was not yet publicly owned.

The preservation of the land surrounding the figure eight loops came with the establishment of the Guy W. Talbot State Park. In 1929 Guy Webster Talbot and his wife Geraldine donated the original 125 acres. Guy W. Talbot was president of Pacific Power and Light Company and lived on the tract at the time of the gift. In 1935 Multnomah county gave additional land, and sold further acreage to the state in 1952. Lands were also donated by the Eva Larson estate, and the balance of the property was purchased from various owners clear up to 1984.

Today much of the land surrounding the Historic Columbia River Highway from Troutdale to The Dalles is protected by state and county parks and national forests making sure that the beauty of the scenic highway and state trail will remain forever in its natural state as it was meant to be.