Click image to enlarge
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McCord Creek sign as seen from Interstate 84, Oregon.
Image taken May 14, 2011.
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McCord Creek ...
Early McCord Creek ...
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According to McArthur and McArthur (2003), McCord Creek was named after pioneer W.R. McCord, who built the first fish wheels near the mouth of the stream.
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"... This creek has had several names, including Pierce Creek and Kelly Creek. A committee representing various historical organizations recommended that it be named McCord Crreek, and that name was adopted by the USBGN. This was in honor of W.R. McCord, a pioneer of Oregon who built the first fish wheels near the mouth of the stream. The falls near the highway are named Elowah, and the creek runs through John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor. ..."
The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "McCord Creek" official on January 1, 1915.
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McCord Creek in 1940 ...
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From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
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At the eastern end of the McCord Creek Bridge, 152.6 m., is a petrified stump that is believed to have matured long before the Cascade Range was thrust up. ..."
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Elowah Falls ...
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Elowah Falls was given it's name by a committee of Mazamas and other outdoor organizations. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made it official on January 1, 1915. An earlier name for the falls was Kelley Falls.
From Friends of the Columbia Gorge website (2011):
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"... At Elowah Falls, McCord Creek crashes into a huge amphitheater made up of several distinct lava flows. This is a fairly easy hike, appropriate for most beginners, leading to a 289-foot waterfall. There is a small amount of climbing involved, with a summit in the middle of the hike. Consider combining this hike with Upper McCord Creek Falls. Follow the trail from the parking area up to junction, veer left to lower trail.
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Upper McCord Creek Falls ...
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A replica of the McCord Fishwheel can be seen at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center museum, in Stevenson, Washington. The McCord wheel was built in 1882, the third one built on the Columbia. This wheel was soon joined by seventy-plus more built on both banks of the river from The Dalles to North Bonneville. The McCord Fishwheel was built by William R. McCord and Frank Warren, and was located on the south side of Bradford Island, approximately near Columbia River Mile (RM) 145.5, near the location where today the salmon enter Bonneville Reservoir above the powerhouse. There was a fishwheel at the east bank of the mouth of McCord Creek, however, and it was known as the Kelly Wheel.
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Click image to enlarge
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Exhibit, McCord Fishwheel.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
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Click image to enlarge
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Exhibit, McCord Fishwheel.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
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Click image to enlarge
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Exhibit, McCord Fishwheel.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
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Click image to enlarge
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Exhibit, McCord Fishwheel.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
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Click image to enlarge
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Exhibit, McCord Fishwheel photograph.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson, Washington.
Image taken July 15, 2011.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 2, 1805 ...
Examined the rapid below us [from their camp at Fort Rains, looking at the Cascade Rapids] more pertcelarly the danger appearing too great to Hazzard our Canoes loaded, dispatched all the men who could not Swim with loads to the end of the portage below, I also walked to the end of the portage with the carriers where I delayed untill everry articles was brought over and canoes arrived Safe. here we brackfast and took a Meridn. altitude 59° 45' 45" about the time we were Setting out 7 Squars came over loaded with Dried fish, and bear grass neetly bundled up, Soon after 4 Indian men came down over the rapid in a large canoe.
passed a rapid at 2 miles & 1 at 4 miles opposite the lower point of a high Island on the Lard Side [Bradford Island], and a little below 4 Houses on the Stard. Bank, a Small Creek on the Lard Side [Tanner Creek] opposit Straw berry Island [Hamilton Island], which heads below the last rapid, opposit the lower point of this Island [Hamilton Island] passed three Islands covered with tall timber [today there are two, Ives and Pierce] opposit the Beatin rock [Beacon Rock]
Those Islands are nearest the Starboard Side, imediately below on the Stard. Side passed a village of nine houses [Skamania and Skamania Landing], which is Situated between 2 Small Creeks [Woodward Creek and Duncan Creek], and are of the Same construction of those above; here the river widens to near a mile, and the bottoms are more extensive and thickly timbered, as also the high mountains on each Side, with Pine, Spruce pine, Cotton wood, a Species of ash, and alder. at 17 miles passed a rock near the middle of the river [Phoca Rock], about 100 feet high and 80 feet Diamuter,
proceed on down a Smoth gentle Stream of about 2 miles wide, in which the tide has its effect as high as the Beaten rock [Beacon Rock] or the Last rapids at Strawberry Island [Hamilton Island],- Saw great numbers of waterfowl of Different kinds, Such as Swan, Geese, white & grey brants, ducks of various kinds, Guls, & Pleaver [today just below Beacon Rock is Franz National Wildlife Refuge]. ...
we encamped under a high projecting rock on the Lard. Side [Rooster Rock, with Crown Point rising above it], here the mountains leave the river on each Side
[leaving the Columbia River Gorge, Steigerwald Land NWR is on the north and the Sandy River delta is on the south],
which from the great Shute to this place is high and rugid [Columbia River Gorge]; thickly Covered with timber principalley of the Pine Species. The bottoms below appear extensive and thickly Covered with wood. river here about 2½ miles wide. Seven Indians in a Canoe on their way down to trade with the nativs below, encamp with us, those we left at the portage passed us this evening and proceeded on down The ebb tide rose here about 9 Inches, the flood tide must rise here much higher- we made 29 miles to day from the Great Shute [Cascade Locks]-
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