Mosier

Mosier. . , Nestled bewteen the rainy Cascades and the eastern Oregon deserts, Mosier's unique climate enables hillsides to bloom in a pallet of color. In the spring, wildflower enthusiasts flock to Mosier for the spectacular array – “the Wildflower Capital of the World.” , Residents of Mosier have always welcomed travelers – even as far back as 1854, when Jonah H. Mosier settled here on a donation land claim. Mosier, a cabinetmaker by trade, had made the rugged trip west twice – to California in 1849, and again to Oregon in 1853. Mosier and his wife operated an impromptu stage station, catering to the hundreds of Oregon Trail emigrants who streamed down the Gorge on their way to the Willamette Valley. , The railroad arrived in 1882 and sparked a real estate boom as settlers, drawn by the ease of transportation and by reports of ideal apple-growing conditions, queued up to purchase land. As it turned out, cherries were far more suitable for the area's soil – but it would take many years for growers to realize this – and even more years for them to switch crops. , Mosier got another infusion of industry with the arrival of the Columbia River Highway in 1921. Roadhouses, restaurants, and service stations lined the scenic road where it passed through town, and the hills echoed with the sputter and cough of touring cars on their way to or from The Dalles. , Sawmilling was Mosier’s primary industry for many years; at one time, three mills processed logs from surrounding hills. Today cherry orchards dominate the industry. , Hike through the Mosier Twin Tunnels west of Mosier, or continue east along the highway, to discover Mosier Falls in Pocket Park and the Mosier Creek Bridge. Conde B. McCullough designed this graceful deck arch bridge. The bridge was completed in 1920. , Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.