Looking Over Skamokawa Towards the Columbia - c. 1914

This view of Skamokawa, on the Washington side of the lower Columbia, shows us the residents were quite aware of variations in water levels. Many homes and even wooden sidewalks were elevated to deal with periodic flooding. For many years the town of Skamokawa was accessible only by the river, and was visited daily by steamboats running between Portland and Astoria. The community had an active life as a lumber and trading center. At about the time the state highway finally reached Skamokawa in 1930, river traffic was dying. A number of early buildings still survive, including the historic steamboat landing site, which has been restored. -- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.