Click image to enlarge
|
Mitchell Point from Ruthton Park, Oregon.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
|
Mitchell Point ...
Click image to enlarge
|
View downstream from Spring Creek Fish Hatchery, Washington.
Mitchell Point, Oregon, is along the water on the left.
Image taken May 1, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Mitchell Point, Oregon, as seen from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken May 1, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Mitchell Point, Oregon, as seen from near Spring Creek, Washington.
Image taken May 10, 2006.
|
Mitchell Point Tunnel ...
|
The Mitchell Point Tunnel on the Historic Columbia River Highway, was designed and constructed by John Arthur Elliott. The tunnel was blasted through solid rock and featured five windows overlooking the river (see "The Golden Age of Postcards" below). It served as a primary car and truck route across the Columbia until 1932, when Tooth Rock Tunnel was opened, offering an alternative route.
From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
-
"MITCHELL POINT TUNNEL (watch for traffic signals) 130.3 m., was bored
through a cliff overhanging the river. In its 385-foot length are hewn
five large arched windows overlooking the Columbia. The great projecting
rock through which the bore was made was known among the Indians as the
Little Storm King, while the sky sweeping mountain above was called the
Great Storm King."
In the 1955 when Interstate 84 was built along the Columbia River the narrow Mitchell Point Tunnel was permanently closed. In 1966, because of crumbling condition, the tunnel was blasted from the cliff.
|
Mitchell Point Geology ...
|
From Norman, et.al. (2004):
Mitchell Point consists of
Grande Ronde lavas of the
Columbia River Basalt Group (early Miocene, erupted between 17 million and 5.5 million years ago)
dipping 30 degrees to the southeast,
capped by 100 feet of Troutdale
Formation quartzitic gravels (Pliocene, 5.3 to 1.8 million years ago), which in
turn are unconformably overlain by later lavas (Pliocene to Pleistocene) with low initial dip.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Mitchell Point, Oregon, from Interstate 84.
Looking at the downstream side of Mitchell Point.
Mitchell Point consists of Grande Ronde Basalt dipping 30 degrees to the southeast, and is capped by 100 feet of Troutdale Formation quartzitic gravels, which in turn are overlain by later lavas.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
|
|
"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
|
|
The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends.
The Penny Postcard today has become a snapshot of history.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchell Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon".
Published by Wesley Andrews, Inc., Portland, Oregon, Card #825.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel and the Columbia River Highway, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchell's Point, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Caption on back reads: "Mitchell's Point. This picture shows the west approach to tunnel at Mitchell's Point, which is locaed beyond Cascade Locks and near Hood River. This tunnel has five gigantic windows overlooking the Columbia and the mountains beyond, and is particularly interesting because it is the most expensive piece of construction on the highway.".
Published by Chas. S. Lipschuetz Company, Portland, Oregon.
Card #327.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Viaduct and Tunnel at Mitchell's Point from Columbia River Bank, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by The Oregon News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #40. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, also known as "Storm Crest Tunnel", with steamer, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Windows in Storm Crest Tunnel, Columbia River Highway.".
Handwritten note on back states that the steamer is the "Bailey Gatzert".
Copyright Weister Co.,
Published by Chas. S. Lipschuetz Company, Portland, Oregon.
Card #323.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
Caption on back reads: "Storm Crest Tunnel. Not only is Storm Crest Tunneled, but it has five gigantic windows overlooking the Columbia and the moutains beyond. Nothing like it is known anywhere, save in a certain point in France and in the famous Axenstrasse along the shore of Lake Lucerne, in Switzerland, and that has only three windows, while Storm Crest has five. It also has parapets at the windows and seats for vistors within.".
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Mitchells Point Tunnel. Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Sawyer Scenic Photo. Card #C-G50.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1930.
Penny Postcard, ca.1930, Postmarked 1951, "Mitchell's Point Tunnel. Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Image Copyright Cross & Dimmitt.
Published by Angelus Commercial Studio, Portland, Oregon.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Interior Mitchell Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Published by The Oregon News Co., Portland, Oregon. Card #59. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Penny Postcard: West Entrance, Mitchell Point Tunnel, ca.1921.
Penny Postcard, Postmarked 1921, "West Entrance to Mitchell's Point Tunnel, Columbia River Highway, Oregon.".
Caption on back reads: "This view gives one a very clear idea o the cost and ingenuity of the engineers who had charge of the construction.".
Published by The Oregon News Company. Card #O-46. Card is postmarked May 26, 1921. In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
|
|
Views from Mitchell Point ...
|
|
A "Mitchell Point Overlook" of the Columbia River Gorge is easily accessible from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 84. The viewpoint offers good views of the Columbia River, Washington State's Drano Lake, Washington State Highway 14 Tunnels, and remnants of the old Broughton Log Flume.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Columbia River looking downstream from Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Columbia River looking downstream from Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Drano Lake from Mitchell Point.
Image taken August 27, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Washington State Highway Tunnel No.2 from Mitchell Point.
Railroad Tunnel No.3 is not visible behind the trees.
View of the west portal.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Broughton Log Flume on slope above Washington State Highway 14 Tunnel No.3.
Image taken June 4, 2005.
|
|
From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
|
|
Return to