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Mitchell Point from Ruthton Park, Oregon.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
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Mitchell Point ...
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View downstream from Spring Creek Fish Hatchery, Washington.
Mitchell Point, Oregon, is along the water on the left.
Image taken May 1, 2005.
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Mitchell Point, Oregon, as seen from near Spring Creek, Washington.
Image taken May 10, 2006.
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Mitchell Point Tunnel ...
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The Mitchell Point Tunnel on the Historic Columbia River Highway, was designed and constructed by John Arthur Elliott. The tunnel was blasted through solid rock and featured five windows overlooking the river (see "The Golden Age of Postcards" below). It served as a primary car and truck route across the Columbia until 1932, when Tooth Rock Tunnel was opened, offering an alternative route.
In the 1955 when Interstate 84 was built along the Columbia River the narrow Mitchell Point Tunnel was permanently closed. In 1966, because of crumbling condition, the tunnel was blasted from the cliff.
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Early Mitchell Point ...
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From "Oregon Geographic Names" (McArthur and McArthur, 2003):
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"Beyond the fact that a man named Mitchell lived and died near this point, there is little information available. He is reported to have been a trapper. Although there have been efforts to change the name to Storm Crest, the public has not looked with favor on the suggestion and prefers the old name. The famous Tunnel of Many Vistas on the Historic Columbia River Highway pierced Mitchell Point but was destroyed when I-84 was constructed."
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Mitchell Point Tunnel in 1940 ...
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From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
"MITCHELL POINT TUNNEL (watch for traffic signals) 130.3 m., was bored
through a cliff overhanging the river. In its 385-foot length are hewn
five large arched windows overlooking the Columbia. The great projecting
rock through which the bore was made was known among the Indians as the
Little Storm King, while the sky sweeping mountain above was called the
Great Storm King."
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Mitchell Point Geology ...
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From Norman, et.al. (2004):
Mitchell Point consists of
Grande Ronde lavas of the
Columbia River Basalt Group (early Miocene, erupted between 17 million and 5.5 million years ago)
dipping 30 degrees to the southeast,
capped by 100 feet of Troutdale
Formation quartzitic gravels (Pliocene, 5.3 to 1.8 million years ago), which in
turn are unconformably overlain by later lavas (Pliocene to Pleistocene) with low initial dip.
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Mitchell Point, Oregon, from Interstate 84.
Looking at the downstream side of Mitchell Point.
Mitchell Point consists of Grande Ronde Basalt dipping 30 degrees to the southeast, and is capped by 100 feet of Troutdale Formation quartzitic gravels, which in turn are overlain by later lavas.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
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"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
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The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends.
The Penny Postcard today has become a snapshot of history.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchell Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon".
Published by Wesley Andrews, Inc., Portland, Oregon, Card #825.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel and the Columbia River Highway, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchell's Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Caption on back reads: "Mitchell's Point. This picture shows the west approach to tunnel at Mitchell's Point, which is locaed beyond Cascade Locks and near Hood River. This tunnel has five gigantic windows overlooking the Columbia and the mountains beyond, and is particularly interesting because it is the most expensive piece of construction on the highway.".
Published by Chas. S. Lipschuetz Company, Portland, Oregon.
Card #327.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Viaduct and Tunnel at Mitchell's Point from Columbia River Bank, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by The Oregon News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #40. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, also known as "Storm Crest Tunnel", with steamer, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Windows in Storm Crest Tunnel, Columbia River Highway.".
Handwritten note on back states that the steamer is the "Bailey Gatzert".
Copyright Weister Co.,
Published by Chas. S. Lipschuetz Company, Portland, Oregon.
Card #323.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
Caption on back reads: "Storm Crest Tunnel. Not only is Storm Crest Tunneled, but it has five gigantic windows overlooking the Columbia and the moutains beyond. Nothing like it is known anywhere, save in a certain point in France and in the famous Axenstrasse along the shore of Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland, and that has only three windows, while Storm Crest has five. It also has parapets at the windows and seats for vistors within.".
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchells Point Tunnel. Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Sawyer Scenic Photo. Card #C-G50.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1930.
Penny Postcard, ca.1930, Postmarked 1951, "Mitchell's Point Tunnel. Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Image Copyright Cross & Dimmitt.
Published by Angelus Commercial Studio, Portland, Oregon.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Interior Mitchell Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by The Oregon News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #59. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: West Entrance, Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1921.
Penny Postcard, Postmarked 1921, "West Entrance to Mitchell's Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Caption on back reads: "This view gives one a very clear idea o the cost and ingenuity of the engineers who had charge of the construction.".
Published by The Oregon News Company. Card #O-46. Card is postmarked May 26, 1921. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Views from Mitchell Point ...
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A "Mitchell Point Overlook" of the Columbia River Gorge is easily accessible from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84. The viewpoint offers good views of the Columbia River, Washington State's Drano Lake, Washington State Highway 14 Tunnels, and remnants of the old Broughton Log Flume.
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Columbia River looking downstream from Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
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Columbia River looking downstream from Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
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Drano Lake from Mitchell Point.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
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Washington State Highway Tunnel No.2 from Mitchell Point.
Railroad Tunnel No.3 is not visible behind the trees.
View of the west portal.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
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Broughton Log Flume on slope above Washington State Highway 14 Tunnel No.3.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, October 29, 1805 ...
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A cloudy morning wind from the West but not hard, we Set out at day light [from their camp on Rocky Island at Crates Point], and proceeded on about five miles Came too on the Stard. Side at a village of 7 houses built in the Same form and materials of those above, here we found the Chief we had Seen at the long narrows [The Dalles] ...
they are hospitable and good humered Speak the Same language of the inhabitants of the last village, we call this the friendly village [vicinity of Dougs Beach].
...
after brackfast we proceeded on, the mountains are high on each Side [high basalt cliffs of the Rowena Gap, with Rowena Crest on the south and the Chamberlain Lake area on the north], containing Scattering pine white oake & under groth, hill Sides Steep and rockey; at 4 miles lower we observed a Small river falling in with great rapidity on the Stard. Side [Klickitat River] below which is a village of 11 houses [today the town of Lyle is on the upstream side of the Klickitat], here we landed to Smoke a pipe with the nativs and examine the mouth of the river, which I found to be 60 yards wide rapid and deep, The inhabitants of the village are friendly and Chearfull; those people inform us also those at the last village that this little river is long and full of falls, no Salmon pass up it, it runs from N. N. E. that ten nations live on this river and its waters, on buries, and what game that Can kill with their Bow & arrows
we purchased 4 dogs and Set out- (this village is the of the Same nation of the one we last passed) and proceeded on The Countrey on each side begin to be thicker timbered with Pine and low white Oake; verry rockey and broken [passing Mayer State Park on the Oregon side]. passed three large rocks in The river the middle rock is large long and has Several Squar vaults on it. we call this rockey Island the Sepulchar [Memaloose Island] - The last river we passed we Shall Call the Cataract River [Klickitat River] from the number of falls which the Indians say is on it- passed 2 Lodges of Indians a Short distance below the Sepulchar Island [Memaloose Island] on the Stard. Side river wide, at 4 mile passed 2 houses on the Stard. Side, Six miles lower passed 4 houses above the mouth of a Small river 40 yards wide on the Lard. Side [Hood River] a thick timbered bottom above & back of those houses; those are the first houses which we have Seen on the South Side of the Columbia River, (and the axess to those dificuelt) for fear of the approach of their common enemies the Snake Indians, passed 14 houses on the Std. Side Scattered on the bank- from the mouth of this little river which we shall Call Labeasche River [Hood River], the falls mountain [Mount Hood] is South and the top is covered with Snow. one mile below pass the mouth of a large rapid Stream on the Stard. Side [White Salmon River], opposit to a large Sand bar [from Hood River], in this creek the Indians above take their fish, here we Saw Several canoes, which induced us to call this Canoe Creek [White Salmon River] it is 28 yards wide, about 4 miles lower and below the Sand bar [Hood River sandbar] is a butifull cascade falling over a rock of about 100 feet [Wah Gwin Gwin Falls, location of the Columbia Gorge Hotel],
[On the route map (Moulton, vol.1, map#78) a "C___ Spring" is shown on the north side of the river, today the location of Spring Creek and Spring Creek Fish Hatchery, with no mention of it in any text. On the south side, at the location of Wah Gwin Gwin Falls, only "Cascade" is labeled and "4 Houses of Indians".]
a Short distance lower passed 4 Indian houses on the Lard. Side in a timbered bottom, a fiew miles further we came too at 3 houses on Stard. Side, back of which is a pond [today the location of Drano Lake. The Little White Salmon River empties into Drano Lake.] in which I Saw Great numbers of Small Swan, Capt. Lewis and went into the houses of those people
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Here the mountains are high on each Side, those to the Lard. Side has Some Snow on them at this time, more timber than above and of greater variety.
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