National Register of Historic Places

The Dalles Commercial Historic District

The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon
Listed
November 4, 1986
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
86002953

About this property

The Dalles Commercial Historic District comprises a primarily commercial and civic portion of downtown The Dalles, Oregon, United States. Strategically located at the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge and near Celilo Falls, The Dalles became the preeminent transportation and trading hub of the interior Northwest in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The 46 historic buildings and other features of the district, built between 1860 and 1938, reflect the city's status and evolution as the gateway to the Columbia Plateau and the commercial, governmental, and cultural center of Eastern Oregon. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Location

The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon
45.60164, -121.18194

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTCOMMERCE
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.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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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
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

The Dalles Civic Auditorium
Industrial
0.1 mi
Dalles Carnegie Library
Industrial
0.1 mi
US Post Office
Industrial
0.1 mi
Sharp, Edward F., Residential Ensemble
Industrial
0.2 mi
Thompson, John L., House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was The Dalles Commercial Historic District listed on the National Register?

The Dalles Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 4, 1986.

What type of historic resource is The Dalles Commercial Historic District?

The Dalles Commercial Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for The Dalles Commercial Historic District?

The period of significance for The Dalles Commercial Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near The Dalles Commercial Historic District?

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