A Portion of Kettle Falls - 1939

The distinctive rocks surrounding Kettle Falls will be recognizable to those familiar with the area, though this view shows only part of the larger falls. Working in 1939, photographer Oestreicher created a series of close-up views of the falls about a year before they were covered by the waters of Lake Roosevelt behind the Grand Coulee Dam.

We will be recreating three of them from his original negatives. Kettle Falls, known as Shonitkwu, meaning "roaring or noisy waters" in the Salish language, were along with Celilo Falls, the two main inland fishing areas along the Columbia River for thousands of years. Both are now underwater.

-- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.