Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Located in The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Geology and other natural history is featured, as is the history of early white explorers and settlers in the region. Visitors can experience a recreation of a Lewis and Clark campsite at the Living History Park.
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Stevenson, Washington, is home to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. The museum's first-floor gallery features a series of reproduced settings, providing a historical tour of the region. Lewis and Clark's influence on the region is presented in the context of a trading post. Other exhibits include a native pit house, sternwheeler and river transportation, and a slide-show that explains the geologic creation of the gorge.
Beacon Rock State Park
Lewis and Clark reached Beacon Rock on October 31, 1805, giving the recognizable landmark its name. It was here that they first observed tidal forces on the Columbia River, promising that the Pacific Ocean was near. The rock was privately owned until 1935, when it was turned over to the Washington State Parks Department. The park now offers camping, boating, trails for hiking and mountain biking, and rock climbing.
