Chief Tommy Kuni Thompson, a revered leader of the Wyam people, served as the salmon chief of Celilo Village for over eight decades. Born along the Columbia River in the mid-19th century, Thompson dedicated his life to preserving Indigenous fishing rights and cultural traditions at Celilo Falls—a vital fishing and trading hub for Native communities for thousands of years.
The Wistaria Farm Inn, located near Cherryville, Oregon, east of Sandy, was one of many roadhouses along the old Mount Hood Loop Highway (now Highway 26). During the early days of automobile travel, these roadhouses provided food and lodging for travelers exploring the scenic route around Mount Hood.
The Historic Columbia River Highway was dedicated in 1917 and quickly became a huge tourist draw. All along the new road built through the pristine and deeply beautiful Columbia River Gorge, roadhouses, restaurants and gift shops sprung up to supply the needs of the tourist traffic. These photos document those early days.
In the early days of the road to Mount Hood, after the immigrant era, the road allowed the burgeoning new city of Portland to access the mountain for recreation. Mountain climbing and hiking the trails in the foothills in those days was the primary activity in the area. Skiing had yet to become an activity on the mountain.
Before the days of automobiles sight-seers were taken over roads at the base of Mount Hood in equipages such as this. The late E. S. Olinger, known as one of Oregon’s most noted drivers is holding the reins.
