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Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken March 6, 2005.
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Wahkeena Falls ...
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Wahkeena Falls is located on the Oregon side of the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 135, and is one of many falls in the Columbia River Gorge which can be seen from the Historic Columbia River Highway. One mile upstream is Multnomah Falls, and downstream is Mist Falls and Benson State Recreation Area.
Wahkeena Falls is 242 feet high and is a "tiered" falls, and is located on Wahkeena Creek.
These falls were once known as "Gordon Falls" for F.E. Gordon, a pioneer landowner. Confusion arose between Gordon Creek near the Sandy River and Gorton Creek near Cascade Locks. In 1915 the Mazamas were appointed to name points on the Columbia River Highway and clear up confusion of similar names in the area. Wahkeena Falls and Wahkeena Creek were chosen. In 1915 the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made official "Wahkeena Falls".
"Wahkeena" comes from the Yakama Tribe and means "most beautiful". A short trail links it with Multnomah Falls.
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Wahkeena Falls, October 2005 ...
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Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Person in red, Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Wahkeena Falls, December 2005 ...
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Winter, Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken December 10, 2005.
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Winter, Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken December 10, 2005.
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Wahkeena Falls in 1940 ...
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From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
"... WAHKEENA (Ind. most beautiful) FALLS, 159.6 m., named for the daughter of a Yakima Indian chief, are considered by some the most beautiful of the many falls in the gorge. There is no sheer drop, but the waters hurl themselves in a series of fantastic cascades down the steep declivity. Wahkeena Creek has its source in Wahkeena Springs only a mile and a half above the cliff over which the waters plunge. ..."
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More views of Wahkeena Falls ...
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Bridge, Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 2005.
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Closeup, Wahkeena Falls, Oregon.
Image taken October 22, 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.
Today the Penny Postcard has become a snapshot of history.
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Penny Postcard: Wahkeena Falls, Columbia River Highway, Oregon, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Wah-Kee-Na Falls, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by Wesley Andrews Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #839. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Wahkeena Falls, Columbia River Highway, Oregon, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Wah-Kee-Na Falls, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by Chas. S. Lipschuetz Company, Portland, Oregon. Card #307. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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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 Pierce National Wildlife Refuge and Franz National Wildlife Refuge]. ...
we encamped under a high projecting rock on the Lard. Side [Rooster Rock],
here the mountains leave the river on each Side, which from the great Shute to this place is high and rugid
[Columbia River Gorge, including Bridal Veil, Cape Horn, Yeon Mountain and St. Peters Dome, Oneonta Bluffs, Basalts at Multnomah and Horsetail Falls];
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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