Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Located about 85 miles east of Portland, The Dalles features a decidedly different cli-
mate - much drier and sunnier. Though steadfastly unglamorous and down to earth (ex-
cept for a few historic buildings), the city offers good outdoor recreation; there's decent
camping and hiking, and fierce winds that are excellent for windsurfing and kiteboard-
ing. The region hosts several good wineries and is also the nation's largest producer of
sweet cherries. The Dalles has also gone high-tech - Google has built a large server facil-
ity here to utilize the area's cheap hydroelectric power.
Sights
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center MUSEUM
( 541-296-8600; www.gorgediscovery.org ; 5000 Discovery Dr; adult/child 6-16yr $9/5;
9am-5pm) This excellent museum covers the history of the gorge, from its creation by
cataclysmic floods to the hardships pioneers had traversing it, to early settlements and
transport in the area to the construction - and consequences - of its dams.
The Lewis and Clark wing has an exhibit on animals the corps had to kill (including
190 dogs and a ferret); there's also a bird of prey educational program every day at 11am
and 2pm, where live raptors are featured.
Other amenities include a large theater, outside picnic tables and a cafe with an outside
deck. The discovery center is 2 miles west of the city.
Fort Dalles Museum MUSEUM
( 541-296-4547; www.fortdallesmuseum.org ; 500 W 15th St; adult/child 7-17yr $5/1;
10am-5pm, hours vary seasonally, closed Oct-Feb) This museum was once part of an 1856 fort
and is Oregon's oldest history museum. It's a fascinating place full of historical items;
highlights include an albatross-feather muff, human hair wreaths, a child's casket with
window face hole and a bonnet worn at Ford Theatre the night Abraham Lincoln was as-
sassinated. There are several antique cars, stagecoaches and even a horse-drawn hearse.
Across the street is a rare example of the area's Swedish architecture.
The Dalles Dam & Lock DAM
( 541-296-1181) The Dalles Dam, built in 1957, produces enough electricity to power
800,000 homes. Access to this power came at a price, however. The dam's reservoir,
Lake Celilo, flooded the culturally rich area around Celilo Falls, which was for thou-
sands of years a Native American meeting place and fishery.
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