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Moffett Creek drainage, Oregon, from Hamilton Island, Washington.
Image taken August 1, 2004.
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Moffett Creek ...
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Moffett Creek merges with the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) ____, just downstream of Munra Point. Directly across from the mouth of the drainage is Hamilton Island, Washington.
Both "Moffett Creek" and "Moffatt Creek" variants of the name were used until 1915, when the U.S. Board of Geographic Names made official "Moffett Creek".
According to Oregon Geographic Names (McArthur and McArthur, 2003):
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"Investigation by H.H. Riddell of Portland indicated that the family for which this stream is named spelled its name Moffett and not Moffatt. The Historic Columbia River Highway crossed Moffett Creek on a remarkable concrete arch. At the time it was built, it was said to have been the longest three-hinged, flat-arch bridge in America. This bridge, now unused, is still standing just north of I-84."
The Moffett Creek Bridge was built in 1915 and was known as an engineering feat of the time. The 170-foot-long arch rises only 17 feet at the center. Today the bridge is a part of the Historic Columbia River Highway's National Recreation Trail.
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Moffett Creek, Oregon, from Hamilton Island, Washington.
Image taken April 2, 2005.
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Bridges across Moffett Creek, Oregon, with train.
View from Hamilton Island, Washington.
Image taken April 2, 2005.
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Moffett Creek in 1940 ...
From the Oregon State Archives "A 1940 Journey Across Oregon":
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"... At MOFFET CREEK, 151.4 m., the highway crosses a large flat-arch cement bridge. The span, 170 feet long, is 70 feet above the stream.
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"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
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The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends.
Penny Postcards today show us a snapshot of history.
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Penny Postcard: Moffett Creek Bridge, Columbia River Highway, Oregon, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Moffats Creek Bridge, Columbia River Highway.". Published by Pacific Novelty Co., San Francisco, California. Card #O-106.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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Penny Postcard: Moffett Creek Bridge, Columbia River Highway, Oregon, ca.1920.
Penny Postcard, ca.1920, "Moffett Creek Bridge. Columbia River Highway, Oregon.". Image copyright Weister Co. Published by Van Nuy Interstate Company.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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