Willamette Falls: An Amazing Place with a Fascinating History

*The Falls are the second largest falls by volume in North America, second only to Niagara Falls.

*Native people have gathered here for millennia to fish and trade. Their heritage and culture is embedded in the swirling waters and basalt cliffs.

*European Americans settled here because of the tremendous economic opportunity The Falls presented. With a drop of 45 feet, it provided a natural source for abundant power to support woolen, lumber, and paper mills. The river served as our first highway to transport the rich resources and goods up and down the valley.

*Oregon City was the first established western place recognized by America and was the capitol of the vast Oregon Territory. In fact, the original plat of San Francisco is still on file at Clackamas County.

*The Falls became home to the first hydropower electrical generation this side of the Mississippi and produced the world’s first long-distance power transmission, 14 miles to downtown Portland.

*The navigational locks at The Falls connected the lower and upper river into one arterial, opening in the shadow of the Civil War.

*Until recently, paper had been produced at The Falls for over 135 years.

We are truly fortunate to live at such a special place as defined by the Willamette River and Willamette Falls.