Oregon City, Oregon has a few amazing facts about it. Many people consider it to be the end of the Oregon Trail. Many people set out west via wagon trains trying to get a fresh start at the time of the gold rush. Now another cool fact about Oregon City is that it is the oldest incorporated city west of the Mississippi.
Now, what I like about Oregon City is there are really two parts to it. The lower part, really known as old town, where most of the businesses are, and then the upper part of Oregon City, where most houses were built in the mid 1800 and the early 1900s, I'm guessing to keep them from flooding when the river rose.
But, there needed to be a way for pedestrians to get from the upper level to the lower level. In the mid 1860s stairs were installed and in 1915 an elevator opened to the public that was water powered and was a 3 minute ride from top to bottom. In 1924 it was converted to electric and made the 3 minute ride a fast 30 second ride.
In 1955, the elevator was rebuilt and is still in use today and has an operator. Around the elevator you will get to see some amazing pictures to show you just some of the changes over the past 100+ years.
So what is so unique about this elevator? It is one of only four municipal elevators in the world. During the busy tourist season it can have up to 1300 riders a day! This free elevator has a very nice operator and if you ask quickly during the 30 second ride, they will answer questions for you.
Now, if you have kids like mine, who love elevator rides, you have to immediately head back up which gives you another 30 seconds to ask some more questions. But, once you get to the top, and head out of what is called the space saucer, and head to the right you can take the promenade and see some of the historic homes along the trail. Here are some pictures below of some of those beautiful homes along the trail.
Now at the end of the promenade you can cross over Highway 99 and go out on the observation deck and look out over the Willamette River Falls. Below you can see the panoramic photo I took from the foot bridge above Highway 99, and at the left of the photo you can see the observation deck.
This is fairly short walk, but it really is a walk down memory lane, so come to the original capital of Oregon, visit the end of the Oregon Trail, and see the beauty of Oregon City from the Elevator tower or anywhere along the promenade.
BELOW YOU WILL FIND ALL THE HOMES FOR SALE IN
OREGON CITY, OREGON
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