Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Come along for a ride down the Columbia River Highway, America’s First Highway. This route was constructed from 1913 to 1922 east of Portland, Oregon, along the south shore of the Columbia River. In nearly 80 miles, it offered motorists magnificent views of a wonderful collection of waterfalls and many scenic vistas. The road continued west to the Oregon Coast and east toward the fertile fields of eastern Oregon. Interstate 84 bypassed the historic highway. The older route, now known as the Historic Columbia River Highway, offers travel at a leisurely pace without any rush. Abandoned segments form the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.
Join Robert W. Hadlow, Ph.D., Senior Historian with the Oregon Department of Transportation as he takes us on a trip of what was America’s first highway.