Real Photo Post Card - "242 Feet, Wahkeena Falls, Ore., Columbia River Highway, #273"

Cross and Dimmitt

Published by Cross and Dimmitt

About this Item

Original black and white photo postcard. No date, circa 1920s-1930s. 3 1/2" x 5 1/2." Title printed at the bottom of the image. Imprint of "Cross & Dimmitt" printed in the lower-right corner. Cross & Dimmitt were two prominent Portland photographers who were known for their work during the 1920s. Postcard is unused. Postcard is very clean and intact except for slight age toning on the back. A Fine copy. This postcard shows a bridge over the cascading Wahkeena Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. The falls are situated in beautiful canyon replete with greenery. The name, "Wahkeena," is an English transliteration of an Indigenous (likely Yakama) word meaning "most beautiful." The Wahkeena Falls bridge was designed by Karl P. Billner, who made the design of the Benson Bridge spanning the nearby Multnomah Falls. Simon Benson, a businessman and namesake of the Benson Bridge, funded both bridges as well as part of the Columbia River Highway. Samuel Lancaster, the chief engineer and landscape architect of the Columbia River Highway, planned many of the man-made structures and monuments lining the highway. The Wahkeena Falls bridge was completed in 1914.

Seller Inventory # 022367

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Real Photo Post Card - "242 Feet, Wahkeena Falls, Ore., Columbia River Highway, #273"
• Publisher: Cross and Dimmitt
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Collectible-Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Postcards
  • Western Americana
  • Art and Architecture