Centennial celebrations planned for Columbia River Historic Hwy

One of our favorite local roads is 100 years old next year and the State of Oregon is planning a big celebration.

The Historic Columbia River Highway is known as “King of the Roads” and it’s more recently become known as a safe and beautiful way to explore the Gorge by bike. We’ve been reporting on progress to restore the road as a biking and walking haven for years. Planners hoped to get the road completed between Troutdale and Hood River by 2016. That’s not going to happen but they’re getting awfully close and there’s still plenty to celebrate.

Stay tuned to the front page and read the official press release about the centennial celebration below:

“America’s Highway” to Celebrate 100 Years

– 2016 marks the centennial anniversary of the Historic Columbia River Highway & State Trail, Oregon’s “King of Roads” –

Troutdale, Hood River and The Dalles, OR (October 7, 2015) – Historic Columbia River Highway (Historic Route 30) is turning 100 in 2016. A Centennial Celebration of the highway will invite visitors from around the world to honor one of the most significant, scenic and historic roads ever built in the United States.

Hailed by The Times of London as “America’s great highway,” the Columbia River Highway was officially dedicated on June 7, 1916 with a dazzling affair that drew the attention of the nation and the world. On that memorable occasion, thousands headed east from Portland by special train or arrived in personal automobiles to be part of the festivities. Centennial celebration sponsors will create that excitement once again with a rededication on June 7, 2016 marking the highway’s first 100 years.

“The Historic Columbia River Highway is one of Oregon’s crown jewels, and we are excited to have visitors explore it and another state treasure, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, by car, bike and foot during its centennial year,” said Kristen Stallman, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Constructed between 1913 and 1922, America’s first scenic highway served thousands of travelers and took full advantage of the Columbia River Gorge’s natural beauty including its waterfalls and amazing vistas, earning it the moniker of “the King of Roads.” The Historic Columbia River Highway is still known for its iconic style and innovative construction techniques, such as rock walls, bridges and notable structures, including Vista House and Multnomah Falls Lodge.

By the early 1950s, the construction of a faster, straighter, water-level route through the Gorge (which would become Interstate 84) obliterated many sections of the Highway, leaving what remained abandoned and disconnected. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act of 1986 directed the State of Oregon to connect these abandoned highway sections as a pedestrian and bike trail. This new rendition of America’s First Scenic Highway is now the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

Today, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Highway & Trail attract approximately 2 million visitors each year, who drive, bicycle and walk for an unparalleled Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area experience. The road takes visitors past 16 waterfall hike trailheads, including the iconic Multnomah Falls, plus numerous other traveler destinations, such as Vista House and Rowena Crest. It also links the tourist-friendly towns of Troutdale, Cascade Locks, Hood River and The Dalles.

To serve Historic Highway & Trail travelers even better, six Gorge communities – Wood Village, Troutdale, Cascade Locks, Hood River, Mosier and The Dalles – will be installing downtown Gorge Hubs this coming year. These multi-use rest stops serve as a welcome center for hikers, cyclists and others. They will provide visitors with a variety of amenities, from bicycle repair stations to information kiosks with maps and community calendars.

2016 Centennial Celebration

Throughout 2016, the country and the world have the opportunity to become reacquainted with America’s First Scenic Highway and the Historic Columbia River Highway & State Trail. Visitors are invited to drive, hike and bike the Highway and State Trail, view magnificent waterfalls and vistas, visit communities along the way, and participate in local events.

The Centennial year will feature events up and down the Gorge, centering around two main events:

June 7, 2016: The official rededication of the Historic Highway & State Trail at Multnomah Falls and Vista House, hosted by the Historic Columbia River Highway Advisory Committee. The rededication will salute the pomp and circumstance of the original dedication by recreating elements from the 1916 event, such as an antique car cavalcade and bike ride.
September 24, 2016: The opening of the most recently completed section of the Historic Highway & State Trail, running from Lindsey Creek to Starvation Creek near Hood River, which will only be accessible to cyclists and walkers. Elected officials, community leaders, Gorge residents and outdoor enthusiasts will celebrate the opening.
In addition to the rededication of the Historic Highway and opening of the new section of State Trail, the surrounding communities on both sides of the Columbia River will be a part of the Centennial Celebration with events, festivals, and exhibits to enrich and extend the experiences of locals and visitors alike. For one, the historic river town of Cascade Locks will host a special exhibit at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum dedicated to the Centennial, as well as a vintage auto parade along the Historic Highway leading from Cascade Locks to the State Trail.

Cultural sites in the Gorge, such as Historic Highway visionary Samuel Hill’s Maryhill Museum of Art and the Troutdale Historical Society, will feature special exhibits related to the construction and heritage of the Historic Columbia River Highway & State Trail. The King of Roads exhibit at the Troutdale Historical Society opened in Summer 2015 and will up throughout the Centennial.

A full calendar of Centennial Celebration events will be available at www.historichighway.org.

Reconnecting the Highway and State Trail in the 21st Century

Today, 63 miles of the 73 miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway are now open to travel by motor vehicle (Historic Columbia River Highway/Historic Route 30) or by foot or bike (Historic Highway & State Trail). Ten miles of abandoned highway await reconnection as a State Trail through the Gorge between Cascade Locks and Hood River.

Funding has been secured to construct five of the remaining 10 miles, and starts in Fall 2015 on a two-mile section of trail between Lindsey Creek and Starvation Creek. In 2016, another three-mile section of trail construction will begin between Wyeth and Lindsey Creek, and will be complete in 2018. With the construction of these five miles, cyclists and hikers will soon be able to access the Historic Highway & State Trail between Wyeth (Exit 51) and Viento State Park (Exit 56).

After the September 2016 opening of the section between Lindsey Creek and Starvation Creek, only five miles of the Historic Highway will remain in need of funding for completion. A major push statewide is planned to secure $32-$35 million in federal funding needed to complete the State Trail. Once the entire 73 miles are reconnected, cyclists will be able to ride from Portland to The Dalles without venturing onto I-84, making it a much safer and widely accessible route.