Oregon History: Willamette Falls & Locks - West Linn, Oregon - Oregon Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

WILLAMETTE FALLS -WAS EARLY THE SITE OF AN
INDIAN SALMON FISHING VILLAGE. THE FALLS FURNISHED
THE POWER FOR A LUMBER MILL WHICH BEGAN OPERATION
IN 1842, A FLOUR MILL IN 1844, A WOOLEN MILL IN 1864 AND
THE FIRST PAPER MILL IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IN 1867.
THE FIRST LONG DISTANCE COMMERCIAL ELECTRIC POWER
TRANSMISSION IN THE UNITED STATES WAS FROM THIS
AREA TO THE CITY OF PORTLAND IN 1889.

WILLAMETTE FALLS LOCKS -STILL IN USE BELOW THIS POINT - WERE
OPENED ON NEW YEARS DAY, 1873, WHEN THE STEAMER MARIA WILKINS BECAME
THE FIRST VESSEL TO NAVIGATE UP THE WEST END OF WILLAMETTE FALLS.
FARMING AND SHIPPING INTERESTS HAD LONG SOUGHT TO ELIMINATE EXPENSIVE
PORTAGES AROUND THIS AGE-OLD BAR TO NAVIGATION 26 MILES ABOVE THE MOUTH
OF THE RIVER. THE INITIAL PROJECT WAS COMPLETED BY THE WILLAMETTE FALLS
CANAL AND LOCKS COMPANY WITH A PARTIAL STATE SUBSIDY AT A COST OF
$450,000. FIVE LOCKS-INCLUDING A CANAL BASIN AND GUARD LOCK AT THE UPPER
END PROVIDE A TOTAL LIFT OF 502 FT. CARVED FROM NATIVE ROCK AND FINISHED
WITH MASONRY, THE LOCKS HAVE CONCRETE SILLS AND ARE LINED WITH TIMBERS.