Happy Birthday, Oregon!
1859-2009

Oregon celebrated its Sesquicentennial (150th birthday) on February 14, 2009.

What was Oregon like in 1859? Here's a list of local events that took place in 1859:

• Oregon was admitted to the Union Feb. 14
• The Dalles was at that time known as Wascopam, soon to be renamed Dalles City.
• The Pack Trail to Canyon City was established.
• Gold was discovered in Eastern Oregon and Idaho and Montana, establishing the first big “gold rush” out of The Dalles – the next 10 years being known as “the Gold period.”
• “The Journal” was the first newspaper published in the city, it was published by Capt. Thomas Jordan of Fort Dalles.
• W.A. Moody built his meeting hall and opra house.
• Col. Nicholas B. Sinnott and Maj. Daniel Handley (a 300 lb. man) acquired the Umatilla House at First and Union. They made it a world famous hotel of 128 rooms, and did more business in a month than all the other hotels combined. The Umatilla House was the place where the stagecoach left for Canyon City, pulling out at 5AM.
• Dalles Fire Department was established.
• The first Courthouse was built (April 8), now known as the Original Wasco County Courthouse. Oliver White helped build it where city hall now stands.
• The city limits extended to 2nd bluff.
• The Congregationalist church was first established by Rev. W.A. Tenny. Rev. Thomas Condon later preached there.
• The lumber for the 1st courthouse was sawed at Jonas Mosier mill at Mosier and floated upriver on a scow.

You will find a lot of interesting activities happening in Wasco County this year. Take a look at our events schedule, and don't forget to mark your calendars for Fort Dalles Days and the Fort Dalles Rodeo in July. We look forward to seeing you!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A TIMELINE OF OREGON HISTORY