The Columbia River from a viewpoint along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail east of the Mosier Twin Tunnels. (Oregon Scenic Images collection)
Continue learning about the highway with these resources:
Selected Web Links
Find resources related to the Historic Columbia River Highway. Keep up to date about current and planned projects related to the highway.
Learn about recreational opportunities along the highway and get a calendar of events for sites along the route.
Learn about the King of Roads exhibit. Plan your highway itinerary with descriptions of essential sights that include family offerings as well as more adventurous outings.
View search results from the Library of Congress and browse images related to the Historic Columbia River Highway. Study drawings detailing the major engineering and design aspects of the highway.
This hand painted glass slide shows the Tanner Creek Bridge. The circa 1920 image is by Cross & Dimmitt. (Image courtesy Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway)
Selected Books
Gronowski, Nancy H. and Jeanette Kloos.
A Study of the Columbia River Highway. Salem OR: Oregon Department of Transportation, 1987.
Lancaster, Samuel C.
The Columbia: America's Great Highway through the Cascade Mountains to the Sea. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2004. (View the 1915 edition of the book online via Google Books)
Mershon, Clarence E.
The Columbia River Highway: From the Sea to the Wheat Fields of Eastern Oregon. Portland OR: Guardian Peaks Enterprises, 2006.
Smith, Dwight A.
Columbia River Highway District. Salem OR: Oregon Department of Transportation, 1984.
Tuhy, John E. and Sam Hill.
The Prince of Castle Nowhere. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1983.
Willis, Peg.
Building the Columbia River Highway – They Said It Couldn’t Be Done. Place: The History Press, 2014. (
Preview the book online via Google Books)
A steam roller compresses crushed rock before paving west of Hood River in 1920. (Portland
Sunday Oregonian, March 28, 1920, Section 6, Page 1)
Credits
Exhibit design and current scenic photographs by Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives
Additional Assistance
Reviewers: Robert Hadlow - Oregon Department of Transportation; Mary Beth Herkert, Layne Sawyer, Austin Schulz, Julie Yamaka - Oregon State Archives.
Technical Assistance: Kevin Courtney, Emma Snodgrass - Oregon Secretary of State's Office