First Peoples – The Cascade Chinook

First People focuses on the history of the original people specific to this area of the Gorge, the Cascade Chinook. The replicated image of "Tsagaglalal" dominates the single monolith in the center of the space.
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Clahclehlah and the Corridor of Commerce

Those interested in the Lewis and Clark saga will not want to miss this exhibit. It provides a fascinating perspective of the Expedition based on both the archaeological and local Native American oral history...
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Early Changes

The Doumitt Store front depicts a typical dry goods store as it existed in Stevenson, WA. in 1907. Early Changes interprets the development of pioneer communities along the Columbia...
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Transportation

The histories of the SP&S (Spokane, Portland & Seattle) Railroad, the development of Highway 8 and the era of the sternwheeler are interwoven in this gallery. For example, the Golden Spike Ceremony commemorating the completion of the SP&S line was held near today's approach to the Bridge of the Gods just west of Stevenson, WA.
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Grand Gallery and Harvesting Resources

The largest gallery in the Museum is Harvesting Resources focuses on the timber and fishing industries in the Gorge. It also contains a waterfall. Four very large artifacts are on display...
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Natural History of the Gorge

On the mezzanine level is a field tent containing information about the geology of the Gorge. On one side are the tools used by a geologist. On the other side is material on botany and entomology.
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Harsh Demands – Bonneville Dam

The Harsh Demands gallery is the first one on second floor and features a short discussion of the positive and negative effects of hydro-electric power, the construction of dams and the many consequences on the river and wildlife.
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Community Gallery

A house-like structure introduces community development. Look for the roofer on top of the structure. He will obviously never finish the roof, just as communities will never finish changing, evolving and growing...
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Spiritual Quest Gallery

This gallery is divided into two separate spiritual quests with one being successful and the other a failure. The first section represents a dream of a man, which failed to materialize. Baron Fersen left Russia just before the Bolsheviks took over. He arrived in the United States and soon formed the scientific philosophical organization called The Lightbearers.
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History of the Rosary Collection

The Don Brown Rosary Collection, the world's largest of its kind, is displayed in the Spiritual Quest Gallery of the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum in Stevenson, WA. under the aegis of the Skamania County Historical Society.
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Second Floor Theatre

The program in the second theatre presents a humorous review of some of the odd historical events in Skamania County and our positive outlook for the future. If one looks closely, the operation of a fishwheel harvesting Chinook salmon is shown.
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Outdoor Exhibits

A diesel locomotive, cedar log carvings, logging equipment, a portion of the Broughton flume and in interpretive kiosk are all available outdoors.
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Contact

Columbia Gorge
Interpretive Center
990 SW Rock Creek Dr
P.O. Box 396
Stevenson, WA 98648

Toll-free:
(800) 991-2338
Locally:
(509) 427-8211
E-mail:
info@columbiagorge.org

About the Museum

Time prints of the millennia are boldly etched on the walls of the Columbia Gorge. They record a 40-million-year-long story of change, endurance and majesty. The first human imprints in the Gorge were left by the Indian cultures that flourished here for thousands of years, drawing both spiritual and physical strength from this.

When you visit the Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, you are able to visualize and participate in the life of the Columbia River Gorge.

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Copyright © 2012 Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum