Dorena in Lane County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The General
1926
| — | The Oregon Film Trail | — |
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026
1. The General Marker
Just southeast of this spot, Buster Keaton shot the climactic crash scene of this Civil War era classic film. Multiple vintage trains from the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway and area sawmills were used for the locomotive, “The General.”
Did You Know?
Keaton’s locomotive crash scene, at $45,000, was the most expensive shot of the silent film era. The railway is now the Row River Trail.
Erected by Oregon Film, OregonMade Creative Foundation. (Marker Number 32.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Film Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.
Location. 43° 42.287′ N, 122° 50.952′ W. Marker is in Dorena, Oregon, in Lane County. It is on Row River Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 37802 Row River Road, Dorena OR 97434, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Stand By Me (approx. 7.8 miles away); Moved a Town to Build the Dam (approx. 7.8 miles away); a different marker also named Stand By Me (approx. 9˝ miles away); Lowell Prospers (approx. 14˝ miles away); a different marker also named Lowell Prospers (approx. 14˝ miles away); Frontier Life (approx. 14.6 miles away); a different marker also named Frontier Life (approx. 14.6 miles away); Building a Bridge (approx. 14.6 miles away).
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, April 11, 2026
2. The General Marker
View of marker looking SE towards Row River Road. The film scenes mentioned on the marker are located SE from here and along Row River. Access to the film scenes is limited.
Photographed by Buster Keaton Productions
3. The General
Silent movie stills from The General that were shot along the Roe River and SE of the OFT marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 56 times since then. Last updated on April 17, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 16, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
