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Willamette Falls Locks
Before the coming of the railroads, riverboats were the best available transportation for cargo and passengers over long distances. In Oregon, riverboat operations on the Willamette River were plagued by the need for a long portage, from Oregon City to Canemah, to get around Willamette Falls. The locks at Willamette Falls were built in the early 1870s from the same locally-quarried stone that built some of Portland's finest buildings from that era. They opened for business on New Year's Day, 1873. After passing through the hands of several different owners, the Army Corps of Engineers bought the locks in 1915 and has operated them ever since. Willamette Falls Locks, the first multi-lift navigation locks built in the United States, are today on the National Register of Historic Places. The Corps operates both the locks and an historical visitor center at no charge to the public.
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Hours of operation for the visitor center vary seasonally. During the summer, it is open from 9:30 AM - 7:30 PM, and after the boat traffic slows down following Labor Day, it is open from 8 AM until 5:30 PM. For further information, contact the Project Manager's office at (503) 656-3381. |
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