Historic Hood River
Vancouver Ferry Dock
8-20-2025
Notes
With all the talk in the news about the I-5 corridor Columbia River crossing, it’s worth remembering there was a time when crossing from Portland to Vancouver required boarding a ferry like this one. There is a sign tacked on the pilot house saying “Base Ball/ Portland”. I wonder if these men are returning from an excursion to see a baseball game in Portland? Circa 1910.
L. E.
This is a long read, but gives a good history of the complications of transportation between the two cities. Once you left Vancouver and crossed to the Oregon side, you still had the Columbia Slough to cross. Now days you zip across the slough via a small bridge, almost unaware of the water beneath. And if you wanted to go to downtown Portland on the west side, you still had the Willamette to cross.
Often times, ferries left Vancouver, sailed downriver to the mouth of the Willamette then up to Portland.
Crossing The Columbia
https://history.columbian.com/early-crossing-3/
L. E.
It looks like there is a lady in the pilot house.