River Mill Hydroelectric Project
National Register of Historic Places

River Mill Hydroelectric Project

Estacada, Clackamas County, Oregon
Listed
May 9, 2001
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
01000497

About this property

River Mill Hydroelectric Project, also known as River Mill Dam and Station M, is a hydroelectric dam and powerhouse in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is just north of Estacada, Oregon, on the Clackamas River at river mile 23.5 (km 37.8). It received its name from being near a sawmill that was located along the river. The dam has been in continuous production of hydroelectric power since 1911, when its construction was funded by the Portland Railway, Light and Power Company. It was one of four related projects on the Clackamas River: the Oak Grove Hydroelectric Project (developed 1923–56), the North Fork dam (1958), and the Faraday Dam (1907–10), all upstream (south) of River Mill. All but Faraday, demolished 2018, are still owned and operated by the successor company, Portland General Electric. The principal designer of the original Mill Run Dam was the Norwegian immigrant Nils F. Ambursen (1876–1958). Based in Boston, his Ambursen Hydraulic Construction Company designed over a hundred dams in the United States from 1903 through 1917. Ambursen's patented concrete-slab-and-buttress dam design was a significant advance in dam design of this era. River Mill is one of only three Ambursen-type dams built west of the Mississippi. The project is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in the Oregon Historic Sites Database of the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office.

Location

Estacada, Clackamas County, Oregon
45.30028, -122.35157

Categories

INDUSTRYENGINEERINGARCHITECTURECOMMERCE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about River Mill Hydroelectric Project

This page lists River Mill Hydroelectric Project. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your River Mill Hydroelectric Project report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Foster, Philip, Farm
Industrial
4 mi
Johnston, Andrew J. and Anna B., Farmstead
Industrial
4.6 mi
Smith, R. S., Motor Company Building
Industrial
8 mi
Baker, Horace, Log Cabin
Industrial
9.4 mi
Jackson, C. S. "Sam", Log House
Industrial
9.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was River Mill Hydroelectric Project listed on the National Register?

River Mill Hydroelectric Project was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 9, 2001.

What type of historic resource is River Mill Hydroelectric Project?

River Mill Hydroelectric Project is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for River Mill Hydroelectric Project?

The period of significance for River Mill Hydroelectric Project is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1907.

Can I research the history near River Mill Hydroelectric Project?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near River Mill Hydroelectric Project will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Clackamas County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Clackamas County.

Explore ClackamasCounty ›

More historic places in Oregon

Browse all historic places in Oregon.

View Oregonhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Oregon history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Oregonhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near River Mill Hydroelectric Project will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report