A Walk in the Past
In 1855, Joseph and Mary Borst settled in the area with a land grant, in a three-room cabin that Joseph built. Due to conflicts between settlers and native people, Mary and her eldest daughter, Eva, born that same year . . . — — Map (db m289635) HM
On Stearns Road at Claquato Drive, on the left when traveling south on Stearns Road.
This pioneer town founded in 1853 on the donation claim of Louis H. Davis, once was the county seat and an important stop-off for travelers between the Columbia River and Puget Sound. The sturdy little church, built in 1858 with hand-forged nails . . . — — Map (db m129165) HM
Near Water Steet 0.1 miles south of Stearns Road, on the left when traveling south.
Under the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act of October 15, 1966, this property possesses exceptional value in commemorating, or illustrating American History Placed on the National Register on April 24, 1973 by the National Park . . . — — Map (db m129172) HM
On Jackson Highway 0.1 miles south of U.S. 12, on the left when traveling south.
In addition to being the
Jackson home, this was
used as a court house
as early as 1850.
House and lot donated
to the Washington
State Historical Society
by
Augustine Donahoe & wife — — Map (db m291817) HM
Near Water Street 0.1 miles south of Stearns Road, on the left when traveling south.
The Oregon Trail, stretching from Missouri to the Pacific, served as the most important route for settlers traveling west. As many as 1600 wagons a day rumbled over the famous route. The northwestern most extension of the Oregon Trail was the . . . — — Map (db m129173) HM
On U.S. 12 0.4 miles east of Mossyrock Dam, on the right when traveling east.
It used to be that you could throw a stick near the headwaters of the Cowlitz River beyond Packwood and it would float past here, to the Columbia River, eventually ending in the Pacific Ocean. Native Americans and pioneers alike not only used the . . . — — Map (db m158980) HM
On U.S. 12 0.9 miles west of Williams Street, on the left when traveling west.
The community of Mossyrock sits on the eastern edge of the Klickitat Prairie. The prairie, named after the Klickitat Indians, was actually home to the Taidnapam, or Upper Cowlitz Indians. Both spoke a dialect of Sahaptin. Early settlers often . . . — — Map (db m158981) HM
On U.S. 12 0.1 miles north of Willame Street, on the right when traveling north.
Greetings. My name is Carl Cortright; occupation logger. I stand here as a memorial to the timber industry that nurtured the community of Packwood through its first century.
It is fitting that I was carved with a chain saw from a 17' cedar log. . . . — — Map (db m306152) HM
On U.S. 12 at Main Street, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 12.
William Packwood and James Longmire traveled across Naches Pass during the 1840s exploring for an easier route east. The trail they blazed is known today as Cowlitz Pass. The explorers discovered this area in 1854 and called it Sulphur Springs; . . . — — Map (db m84453) HM
Near U.S. 12 0.1 miles east of Forest Service Road 1276, on the right when traveling east.
The rock before you is a clue to a geologic mystery. Between 110,000 and 20,000 years ago, a volcano erupted about nine miles away. Dacite lava flowed here and stopped, forming an unusually deep pool. Geologists don’t know for sure what blocked the . . . — — Map (db m71658)
Near U.S. 12 0.1 miles east of Forest Service Road 1276, on the right when traveling east.
Before Euro-Americans arrived, Native people crossed the mountains on rugged trails to visit relatives, trade with other tribes, and gather food for winter. Later, prospectors, sheepherders, settlers and early Forest Service rangers used the same . . . — — Map (db m71657) HM
On Main Street (Washington Route 6) at East 5th Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
Harry McCormick and F. B. Hubbard organized the McCormick Lumber Company in 1897. The mill was located two miles west of Pe Ell on the South Bend branch of the Northern Pacific Railway. It consisted of a shingle mill, planing mill, dry kilns, . . . — — Map (db m129138) HM
On Cowlitz Street (State Road 505) at Front Street, on the right when traveling east on Cowlitz Street.
Simon Plamondon, the son of a Royal Surveyor, was born in Quebec, Canada in 1800. Losing his father at an early age, he learned to hunt, fish, and trap with neighboring Indian boys. At age 18, Plamondon traveled to the Pacific Northwest to trap for . . . — — Map (db m291872) HM
On Front Street south of Cowlitz Street ( Road 505), on the left when traveling south.
In the early history of the area before trains and highways, the Cowlitz
River was the gateway to the Northwest. The Cowlitz River was instrumental
in the founding and flourishing of what is now known as Toledo.
The Cowlitz River was used as a . . . — — Map (db m291871) HM
On Cowlitz Street (State Road 505) at Front Street, on the left when traveling east on Cowlitz Street.
A convention, held at
Cowlitz 1 mile south
formulated a petition
asking Congress to divide
Oregon. Acting on this,
Washington Territory
was created.
President Fillmore
signed the act March 2, 1853. — — Map (db m291864) HM
