Pavillion
By a nail-biting vote of 52-50 in 1843, Oregon became a provisional territory of the United States. If not, I may have ended up speaking with a Cockney accent. The voting site is at Champoeg Park on the Willamette River about 20 miles southwest of Portland.
There was a city at Champoeg (cham-poo-e’) at one time, but several floods in the late 1800’s destroyed most of the buildings. Maybe as a hint for the modern day, the Champoeg folks learned their lesson and soon moved to higher ground.
Pavillon Monument where the vote occurred
History of the Park
Geese heading south
Hiking the Trail
After visiting the pavilion and monument commemorating the 1843 event, it’s always enjoyable taking a short loop to the west along the river. The cottonwood trees are very large, as big as any I have ever seen.
After returning to the pavilion, it’s a treat to hike to the east on a cinder path, which soon turns to a paved lane along the River.
A side path goes to an 1845 pioneer woman’s gravesite and then a nature hike loop.
The hike back to the trailhead is always pleasant usually with the cackling of geese flying overhead.
Cottonwoods along the Willamette River
Leaf-covered trail
Queen Anne’s Lace
Pioneer Woman’s gravesite
Small creek by Nature Trail
Before the flood-control dams were built on the Willamette River, it really flooded in the area at times
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