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Lausmann Memorial Park, Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken November 10, 2014.
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Wygant, Seneca Fouts, and Vinzenz Lausmann State Natural Areas ...
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The Wygant State Natural Area (south and west of Mitchell Point), Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area (east of Mitchell Point), and the Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area (west of Mitchell Point) were all aquired to protect the scenic Mitchell Point area.
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Wygant, Seneca Fouts, and VInzenz Lausmann
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- Wygant State Natural Area ...
- Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area ...
- Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area ...
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Wygant State Natural Area ...
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The Wygant State Natural Area comprises 666.73 acres, and lies west of Mitchell Point.
According to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation website (2014):
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"... Land for the park was acquired between 1933 and 1978 by purchase and gift. The original 251.50 acres were given by Simeon Reed Winch and his wife, Olivia, and mother, Nellie, in 1933 in honor of Winch's grandparents, Theodore and Margaret Wygant. Theodore Wygant was an Oregon Trail pioneer of 1850. The Highway Commission agreed to commemorate the Wygants with the park’s name. Hood River County also gave land to the park. This park adjoins Seneca Fouts Memorial and Vinzenz Lausmann near Mitchell Point The park is forested, steep-walled Columbia River Gorge land. In the 1930s, day use developments, including trails, were made by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A trail traverses the park in a dense, hilly wilderness area which was once the old Oregon Trail, and later the Historic Columbia River Highway. The first mile of this trail is on pavement that hasn't had an automobile on it for 50 years (it still has the yellow divider stripe)."
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Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area ...
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The Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area comprises 425.5 acres of wilderness and lies to the east of Mitchell Point. According to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation website (2014):
- "... The original 150.5 acres for the park were given by Seneca Fouts in 1944. Later tracts were purchased from the Oregon Board of Forestry and private owners in 1959, 1961 and 1963. In 1978, an exchange was made with Hood River County that added lands to this park and Wygant State Park . ..."
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Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Natural Area ...
In 1954 the Lausmann family donated 126 acres to the Columbia River Gorge Commission, who in turn gave the land to the State for park purposes, stipulating that it be named in memory of Vinzenz Lausmann. It was acquired to protect the scenic Mitchell Point area, joining the Wygant Natural Area to the west and the Seneca Fouts Memorial State Natural Area to the east.
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ANNA AND VINZENZ LAUSMANN
MEMORIAL PARK
This Plaque Is Adjacent To A Tract Of Land
Given To
The People Of The State of Oregon
For Park Purposes
Donated In Memory Of Their Father And Mother
By
Anton A. Lausmann And Joseph H. Lausmann
To Further
The Recreational And Scenic Aspects
Of The Columbia River Gorge
December 28, 1954
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VINZENZ LAUSMANN MEMORIAL STATE PARK (1965)
Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial State Park is located on Interstate Highway 80N, near Mitchell Point, approximately five miles west of the city of Hood River in Hood River County.
The entire park area, 126 acres, was a gift from the Columbia River Gorge Commission on August 14, 1961. It was first a gift to the Gorge Commission from the Lausmann family on December 28, 1954, as a memorial to Vinzenz Lausmann and to be used for park purposes. The document relinquishing title to the state specifies that title is given upon the condition that said land shall be designated and forever known as "Vinzenz Lausmann Memorial Park."
Preservation of the scenic aspects of the Columbia River Gorge prompted the Commission to accept this generous gift. The Lausmann tract is located in a scenic section of the gorge and joins Seneca Fouts State Park to the north and east and Wygant State Park to the west.
The terrain in general is quite steep, and south of the old highway it rises abruptly. The coverage is small fir trees intermingled with maple and alder, two varieties which add greatly to the beauty of the gorge when fall turns their green leaves to many brilliant colors.
A plaque giving information about Mr. Lausmann and his gift to the public is to be erected at this park. Mr. Lausmann supplied $753.45 to the Columbia Gorge Commission toward the plaque.
No improvements have been added to this area."
Source:
Chester H. Armstrong (compiler), 1965, "History of the Oregon State Parks: 1917-1963, published by Oregon State Parks.
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Plaque, Lausmann Memorial Park, Mitchell Point, Oregon.
Image taken November 10, 2014.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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