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HISTORY

Evidence suggests that The Dalles area has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years. The river, salmon runs, and fine weather provided a comfortable living for the indigenous tribes of the area. Lewis and Clark breathed a measured sigh of relief when they reached The Dalles, suspecting that the rivers torrent had relented and the now slower moving Columbia would provide a reasonably comfortable passage to the sea. The Dalles also became known as the end of the Oregon Trail – as it was where the ruts of the trail came to an end, and the safest passage was to load the wagons on boats and float the river canyon through the Cascade Mountain Range.