The Army Corps of Engineers commenced work on the dam in 1952 and completed it five years later. Slackwater created by the dam submerged Celilo Falls, the economic and cultural hub of Native Americans in the region and the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. On March 10, 1957, hundreds of observers looked on as the rising waters rapidly silenced the falls, submerged fishing platforms, and consumed the village of Celilo.
The Dalles Dam Visitor Center is located at Seufert Park on the Oregon shore, and was built in 1981. Visitors used to be able to ride a tour train, which has been closed since autumn 2001. The closure is due to post-September 11 concerns, the deteriorating conditions of the tracks, and a small... Read More