Celilo Canal

Built: 1915

Remnant of Celilo Canal at The Dalles Damv.2020.07.05.007Google Earth Imagery Date: June 14, 2019

"Although Cascade Locks had opened downstream to provide greatly increased ease of access between The Dalles and the ocean during the previous decade, a problem remained just a short distance up river: Celilo was not yet navigable. In 1906, plans were set in motion to build a Dalles-Celilo Canal and the project was completed in 1915, connecting the lower and upper Columbia for virtually any watercraft."

Dohnal 110

Highway construction did not start until later in this area, but while the CRH was under construction lower in the Gorge, the Celilo Canal was being built on this end...

Western Terminus, Celilo CanalDate and Photographer Uncertain

Canal and river, 1948Photographer Uncertain

Remnants of Canal Buried Within The Dalles DamMarch 6, 2016Photo by A. F. Litt

"In 1915, locks were completed at Celilo, providing passage around the raging Big Eddy Rapids."

Durbin 18

CLICK HERE, or below, for a cool map showing the proposed location of the Celilo Canal. It is interesting how far away The Dalles was at that point in time, growing all the way out east to the current dam location...

Examination and Survey of Columbia River, Oregon and Washington: Map 2 (Showing the location of the proposed Canal and Locks) http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ww-text/id/2448/show/2426Title: Examination and Survey of Columbia River, Oregon and WashingtonAuthor(s): Meiklejohn, G.D .Wilson, John M .Harts, William Wright, 1866-1961Mansfield, Samuel M.Publisher: United States Government Printing OfficePlace of Publication: United States - Washington, D.C.Date of Original: December 20, 1900Call Number Y1.1/2 :Serial: 4148Original Source: United States. Cong. House. House Documents Vol. 74. 56th Cong., 2nd Session. House Docs. 151-228 with exceptions. Washington: GPO 1901.Date Digitized: Q4 2004Holding Institution: University of Washington LibrariesGeographical Coverage: United StatesCollection: Western Waters Text CollectionContributor: University of Washington Libraries

"Boy Scout Troop 94, LaCrosse WA, circa 1952, Celilo Canal"

Posted by Neil E. Johnson, July 14, 2020Past and Present Views Along the Columbia River Highwayhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/483015922488601/permalink/757529438370580

"Ira Williams was most likely a consultant on a dam for this project, the "Big Eddy (The Dalles)" dam, clearly predating the larger, later dam, since Williams passed on January 21, 1934, shortly after being named as the geologist on the Bonneville Dam build."

Reddick xv

A grain barge passes through Celilo Canal (5572)Oregon State Archives - A 1940 Journey Across Oregon http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/across/biggs.html

Celilo Canal Remnant at the Dillon Overcrossing Remnantv.2020.07.05.007Google Earth Imagery Date: June 14, 2019

Near the center of the image below, the entrance of the old locks are still visible...

Celilo Canal and Mt. Hood. (2233)Oregon State Archives - A 1940 Journey Across Oregon http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/exhibits/across/biggs.html

Dillon Crossing and the Locks are shown on this map

Wasco County 5, Fivemile Rapids, 1933Page 041 - Township 2 N. Range 14 E., Big Eddy, Seufert, DuneAtlas: Wasco County 1933State: OregonMetsker Maps 1933Item # US1328894Historic Map Works.http://www.historicmapworks.com/Map/US/1328894/Page+041+++Township+2+N++Range+14+E+++Big+Eddy++Seufert++Dune/Wasco+County+1933/Oregon/

The Dalles-Celilo Canal with Cape Horn, ca.1920.Penny Postcard, ca.1920. Card #650. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/the_dalles-celilo_canal.html

Source Uncertain

The Dalles-Celilo Canalc. 1910By Oregon State University Archives (The Dalles-Celilo Canal Uploaded by Meisam) [see page for license], via Wikimedia Commonshttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AThe_Dalles-Celilo_Canal.jpg

No. 91, Celilo Indian Village, on Old Oregon Trail HighwayPhotographer Uncertain, Possibly B. C. Markham

Celilo Falls, Canal, and Village before inundation... (2735)Oregon State Archives / Oregon Department of Transportationhttp://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/images/records/state/odot/highway/2735.jpg

Celilo Village and the End of the Canalv.2020.07.05.007Google Earth Imagery Date: June 14, 2019

Canal Flooding at Celilo? 1948Photographer Uncertain

Celilo Canal

Built: 1915

"In 1915, locks were completed at Celilo, providing passage around the raging Big Eddy Rapids."

"Ira Williams was most likely a consultant on a dam for this project, the "Big Eddy (The Dalles)" dam, clearly predating the larger, later dam, since Williams passed on January 21, 1934, shortly after being named as the geologist on the Bonneville Dam build."

Near the center of the image below, the entrance of the old locks are still visible...

Links

Wikipedia - Celilo Canal:

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway