Historic Hood River
Castle Rock
Notes
Continuing with this series of Weister postcards of the Columbia River Highway, we come to “Castle Rock”. This really is an exceptional view, though I suspect visitors on the highway were disappointed when they discovered they couldn’t get nearly as close as this to the rock itself.
Wikipedia says Lewis and Clark originally called this “Beaten Rock” and then later as “Beacon Rock.” Castle Rock was also a common name, though “Beacon Rock” became the official name in 1915. Mr. Weister’s publisher apparently didn’t get the memo.
Wikipedia also claims the Army Corps of Engineers considered destroying the rock to provide material for the jetty at the mouth of the Columbia, apparently going as far as boring two tunnels into its base. Has anyone heard of these tunnels?
Kenn
There is a cavity on the river side of the rock that I have been told is evidence of blasting. Rock hard enough to withstand the pounding of the seas is not easily available, this rock was wanted because of direct river access.
L.E.
I don’t know if it was the Army Corps of Engineers or private enterprise that was planning to blast the rock for the jetties.
Henry Biddle, who is known for "saving" the rock, was himself a geologist and instrumental in forming the Fisher Rock Quarry near Camas WA. which provided most of the jetty rock for Grays Harbor and the mouth of the Columbia River.
Actually, Charles Ladd is supposedly the one who saved the rock and Biddle purchased it from him.
In yesterday’s photo, you can see Biddle Butte, overlooking the River.
Biddle’s own story about Beacon Rock.
http://www.columbiagorge.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Beacon_Rock_by_Henry_J._Biddle.pdf
L.E.
One of the things about Beacon Rock that has always fascinated me, is that, this is the first place Lewis and Clark noticed a tidal effect.
I have also been told that the river bottom in amongst the islands at Beacon Rock is gravelly and salmon will spawn there.
Jerry Larsen
Somewhere in a nook or cranny on the rock is a gold ring that I was given by my grandfather that I lost while climbing it about 1955.
L.E.
HHR photo #948
https://www.hoodriverhistorymuseum.org?showimage=948
shows two fish wheels right at Beacon Rock and it also shows the east side of the rock with two holes.
Do you think those holes are natural, or could those be the beginnings of tunnels?