Historic Hood River
Multnomah Falls Station
Notes
We’re always getting packages of Columbia River Highway postcards at the museum, but this is the first one I’ve seen of the “Multnomah Falls Station.” It makes sense there would be a small station given that before the Columbia River Highway construction the railroad and the steamer were the main ways to get to the falls. We’re looking west, with the station located where the lodge is today. You can see in the modern view below the railing on the bridge over the creek has seen many years of wear, but is mostly unchanged.
This set of cards comes with a nice story:Â In 1923 Rev. Louis Clarence and Emma Schroeder took train from St. Louis to LA, and up the Pacific Coast to Alaska on their honeymoon. They took a day trip from Portland up the Columbia River Highway, including lunch at the Columbia Gorge Hotel.
Thorn
Quite the honeymoon! I never realized the opening of the Columbia Gorge Hotel predated the opening of Multnomah Lodge.
L. E.
This photo shows the beautiful stonework that I think some of us take for granted because it has always been there during our lifetime.
Arthur Babitz
Yes Thorn, FYI we have a set of original blueprints of the “Benson Hotel” which became the Columbia Gorge Hotel.
Roger Sheldrake
I don’t have the ability to zoom in. Any thoughts on the car at the center of the picture? Radiator looks round-ish, not vertical like every other
Arthur Babitz
Roger, unfortunately this collection of pre-printed postcards is halftone instead of a photographic print, so there is no more detail available.