Vista House, OR

Vista House is an interpretive center and the most photographed icon of the Columbia River Gorge.  Vista House is located on the western end of the Historic Columbia River Highway at Crown Point State Park.  It is operated by the Friends of Vista House, in cooperation with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department since 1982. 

The Friends of Vista House staff and maintain the historic Vista House and offer many visitor services, including: A knowledgeable volunteer-staffed information desk. Educational exhibits and displays relating to the building, the highway and local flora, and more.  Visitor “comfort” facilities and rest area.

Vista House was built in 1916-1918 as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and as a comfort station for those traveling on the Historic Columbia River Highway.  The octagonal stone structure towers 733 feet above the Columbia River, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the National Geographic Society’s 2001 “Save America’s Treasures” book.

Vista House was closed for four years while an extensive restoration was completed, and was reopened to the public in the summer of 2005.  The fundraising goal of over $4 million was completed in 2003 by joint efforts of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon State Parks Trust and The Friends of Vista House.  Visit soon!

Samuel Lancaster, Assistant Highway Engineer for Multnomah County in 1913, supervised the Columbia River Highway project. Lancaster's proposal to construct a building on the summit of Crown Point was another reflection of his desire to inspire the traveller along the highway and to make the wonders of the gorge accessible.

As Lancaster described it, the Crown Point promontory was the ideal site for "an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite". Such an observatory would also be a fitting memorial to "the trials and hardships of those who had come into the Oregon country." And it could "serve as a comfort station for the tourist and the travellers of America's greatest highway." He suggested it be known as the Vista House.

The official opening of the Columbia River Highway from Portland to Hood River marked the completion of a tremendous feat in highway construction. On May 5, 1918, dedication of the highway took place at Crown Point. On that rocky promontory, 733 feet above the Columbia River, construction of Vista House began that same year.

The construction of Vista House was completed by Multnomah County, under the direction of John B. Yeon, Multnomah County roadmaster. Plans for the interior decorations were furnished by Samuel Lancaster. Total cost of the Vista House construction was approximately $100,000.00.

There has been some kind of commercial activity in the Vista House since its inception. Cross & Dimmitt produced and sold post cards in the building for many of it's early years. There was a gift shop in operation by a succession of concessionaires for many years. The nature of the operation of the building changed when, in 1982, the Friends of Vista House formed and worked in cooperation with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to provide more education to the public and operate the building in a more interpretive manner. The friends operate a gallery in the lower level to raise funds for the interpretive and restoration projects.

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