Lewis and Clark Trail History

The Cathlapotle Plankhouse on the Columbia River

Approximately ten miles downstream from the Portland / Vancouver metropolitan area, on the Washington State side of the Columbia River shoreline, you can find the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Four refuges in the vicinity were established in 1965 including the Ridgefield, in response to the violent earthquake of 1964 in Alaska. The establishment of these refuges was made to secure winter habitat for dusky Canada geese and wintering waterfowl.

Located on refuge grounds is an archaeological site known as the Cathlapotle Town Site, one of the best-preserved Native American sites in the Northwest United States. Built on the historical site is the Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-scale replica of a Chinook cedar plankhouse.

Chinookan-speaking peoples made the Columbia River their home for thousands of years. From the river's depths they gathered salmon, sturgeon, and other fish. Over this liquid highway their canoes transported goods from coast to interior. During peak times, Cathlapotle's fourteen plankhouses were occupied by around 900 people. Cathlapotle was one of the largest settlements on the lower Columbia River, as its strategic location at the confluence of several waterways made it a mercantile center.

William Broughton of the Vancouver Expedition (1791-1795) noted a "large Indian village," today considered to be Cathlapotle. After leaving Fort Clatsop for the return journey eastward, Lewis and Clark briefly visited the town and traded with the inhabitants. They camped at a place nearby, which is now called Wapato Portage.

The Plankhouse is usually open from noon to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons April through October. Open hours are based on volunteer availability, so check the calendar on their website before making a trip out.