Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway

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Spring 2009 Self-Guided Tour

You are invited to tour the Historic Columbia River Highway in your own automobile from Cascade Locks to the Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles, Oregon. You and your entourage will be treated to hosts of “highway” experts stationed at key sites along the route. They will provide a new understanding and appreciation for this engineering marvel in our own backyard.

Please join us Saturday, April 18, 2009. Roll down your car windows and imagine how car travel once was along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Picture yourself as an early tourist in a Model T motoring the road, exposed to the elements and taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of the Columbia River Gorge.

Starting at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum where you pick up your tour booklet and map, you will be directed to well known and lesser known attractions along 20 miles of Interstate 84 and 25 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway. The self-guided tour culminates at the Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles. You are encouraged to view the exhibits at the Center and view the Historic Highway film “Paradise Road”. If you do plan to visit the Center, you will need to purchase the $23 ticket rather than the $20 one.

When: Saturday, April 18, 2009, 10am to 12 Noon (this is the time frame for picking up your booklet and map). The official tour ends at 4pm at the Discovery Center in The Dalles.

Where: Cascade Locks Historical Museum, 1 NW Portage Road, Cascade Locks, Oregon 97014. Reach Cascade Locks at exit #44 either East-bound or West-bound on Interstate 84. Also accessible by crossing the Bridge of the Gods from State Route 14 near Stevenson, Washington.

Ticket Information: Two types of tickets are available.

First, a $20 each person. For your ticket, you will receive a tour booklet and have access to the experts on the way.

Second, a $23 each person. This the same as above but additionally provides admission to the Gorge Discovery Center at the end of the tour. This an $8 value for just $3. The tickets are non-refundable.

Ticket Sales to End: Web sales end April 15th. People who would like to participate can register at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum between 10 and noon on April 18. Cash or check only, please.

More to do at the end of the Tour:

Later on you may want to spend the balance of your day on your own for a hike or a bike ride on the Riverfront Trail at The Dalles waterfront or on another section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. A perfect ending to a wonderful day’s drive through history.

Below is the list of the experts for the Tour. The Tour is a fundraising event for the Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway (FHCRH). We are presenting this event for you to learn about and experience one of America’s Greatest Highways.

The Spring Self-Guided Tour “Highway” Experts:

Here are those experts that you will be able to speak with at the various locations along the Historic Highway:

Mary Stillwell, Head Curator of the Cascade Locks Historical Museum (at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum)

Stan Kelsay, Principal, GRI, Geotechnical & Environmental Consultants (at Mitchell Point)

Matt Davey, OPRD Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail Ranger (at the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead)

Bill Pattison, Chair, Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee (at the Hood River History Museum)

Diane McClay, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (at the Senator Mark O. Hatfield East Trailhead)

Dr. Robert Hadlow, ODOT Senior Historian, author of the nomination of the HCRH as a National Historic Landmark and Marc Berry, former Mayor of Mosier Oregon (at the Mosier Creek Bridge and the Pioneer Cemetery)

Tom Garnier, Owner (at the grounds of the Historic Mayerdale Estate)

Barbara Robinson, Fellow, Native Plant Society of Oregon; Jerry Igo, Fellow, Native Plant Society of Oregon and member, Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee (at the Rowena Crest/Tom McCall Preserve)

Carolyn Wood & John Lundell, former members of the Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee (at the Gorge Discovery Center)

Send questions to info@hcrh.org