Real Photo Post Card - "'Oneonta Tunnel,' Columbia River Highway, Ore., #426"

Cross and Dimmitt

Published by Cross and Dimmitt

About this Item

Original black and white photo postcard. No date, circa 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 the completed Oneonta Tunnel. The Oneonta Tunnel runs directly through Oneonta Bluff. The Oneonta Tunnel was built in the 1930s to accommodate a new portion of the Columbia River Highway. A railroad had already been built directly against the Oneonta Bluff, so engineers concluded the most efficient option was to blast directly through the bluff. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Oregon Highway Department closed access to the Oneonta Tunnel as part of its plan to modernize the Columbia River Highway. The Oneonta Tunnel remained decommissioned until 1986 when legislature was introduced to reconnect historic portions of the Columbia River Highway to the new one. The Oneonta Tunnel was restored in 2006. Unfortunately, the Oneonta Tunnel fell victim to vandalism and the catastrophic Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. However, there are plans to restore the tunnel once again. Restorations to the Oneonta Tunnel are planned for late 2020 into 2021.

Seller Inventory # 022366

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Real Photo Post Card - "'Oneonta Tunnel,' Columbia River Highway, Ore., #426"
• Publisher: Cross and Dimmitt
• Binding: No Binding
• Condition: Collectible-Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Postcards
  • Western Americana
  • Art and Architecture