OTE - Oregon Travel Experience

Willamette Falls

Posted on: September 26th, 2011 in Historical Marker Audio Tours, Historical Marker Details |

Willamette Falls Marker

Subject:The falls were originally a Native American fishing site and later became the power source for numerous mills and electricity generation.

Willamette Falls was early the site of an Indian salmon fishing village. The falls furnished the power for a lumber mill which began operation in 1842, a flour mill in 1844, a woolen mill in 1864 and the first paper mill in the Pacific Northwest in 1867. The first long distance commercial electric power transmission in the United States was from this area to the City of Portland in 1889.

There are other markers at this same location:
WILLAMETTE FALLS LOCKS
DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN
GEORGE ABERNETHY

Willamette Falls Audio Tour