Lewis and Clark Monument
"Ranging from Portland eastward to The Dalles, the first state owned park area along the Columbia River Highway is a tract of one acre, situated just above the lower Sandy River bridge; the last one the Lewis and Clark Plaza , just within the west limits of The Dalles."
W. A. Langille, State Parks Historian, 1946 (Langille and Boardman 4)
1946 State Parks Report: Lewis and Clark Plaza
The Lewis and Clark Plaza is a tract of land situated on the relocated Columbia River Highway where it enters The Dalles from the west. It is described as being in Section 4, Township 1 North of Range 13 East, W.M., Wasco County, containing one and fifty five hundredth acres, a gift from Dalles City, a municipal corporation, to the State of Oregon, the deed dated May 10, 1936 Adjoining and adjacent to the Plaza tract, in the same section, are the parcel of land given to the state, by Fred F. Thompson and Edna C. Thompson, his wife, the deed date May 8, 1936, containing two and sixty three hundredths acres, involving an exchange of a quarter acre by the State. A portion of this tract is being utilized for highway and access road purposes.
The Dalles City tract was for the purpose of erecting thereon a large stone monument to commemorate the presence of the Lewis and Clark expedition who camped for several days at the nearby mouth of Mill Creek. In Lewis A. McArthur's precious volume of Oregon Geographic Names, he says: "The neighborhood of Mill Creek at The Dalles was called 'Quenett' by the Indians, which was a word for salmon trout. Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of this stream on October 25, 26, 27, 1805 and recorded the farm 'Quenett' in their journal and on their maps. In April 1806 they renamed this place 'Rockfort Camp'".
After the site was acquired, the erection of the monument was started as a Works Progress Administration project, sponsored by the Dalles City municipality. The work was suspended when the WPA ceased their activities and has not been renewed since. No doubt, interest in it will be revived when the days of peace return and this worthy project will be carried onto completion.
W. A. Langille
State Parks Historian
December 5, 1945
Recommendations:
Provide funds to complete monument.
To landscape grounds.
S. H. Boardman
State Parks Superintendent
March 25, 1946
"The Dalles Lewis and Clark Monument was built prior to World War II starting in 1939. During the War, all work was halted and the project never resumed. In the 1960's, the Dalles Lions Club constructed a picnic shelter surrounding the Monument. Over the past decades, the structure has fallen into disrepair and posses a safety risk for users of the new skate park that is located next to the monument. A decision to remove the structure and donate the usable materials to The Dalles Parks and Recreation for future construction of new smaller shelters was approved."
https://www.facebook.com/TheDallesLewisAndClarkMonumentProject/info
Links
Request to nominate the Lewis and Clark Monument for inventory designation to the local Historical Register. 2013.
City of The Dalles - Historic Landmarks Commission