Willamette Falls: Old and New History

By: Ana Imes

Illustrated by: Carla Cieza

On Sept. 2, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde began demolition of the Blue Heron Paper Mill in Oregon City. Ore. The Tribe purchased the mill and land around Willamette Falls from a private developer in 2019, and will soon restore public access to the falls.

Residents and tourists have been able to view the Willamette Falls from a distance via the McLoughlin Promenade and Willamette River Viewpoint since 1937, but have not been able to see the falls up close since the establishment of the Blue Heron Paper Mill in 1908. Since the mill’s closure in 2011, the abandoned building has become an eyesore and still blocks Oregon City residents’ and tourists’ view of the falls.

Groups such as the Willamette Falls and Landings Heritage Area Coalition (WFLHAC) and Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation (WFHF) have promoted various projects to allow the public to access the falls since the early 2000’s. The Crescent spoke with Britta Stewart, Executive Director for the WFLHAC about recent developments.

“The WFLHAC has a good relationship with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. We have a Tribal Council Member on our board and we are supportive of each other's projects as they relate to the Willamette River,” Stewart said. “They have very recently broken ground on a large scale project to renovate the property that will eventually lead to it being open to the public and offer educational opportunities and a magnificent view of the falls.”

The WFLHAC vision, according to the organization's website is “to ensure the Heritage Area is a source of pride and prosperity, where visitors and residents experience the places, stories and abundance of culture and history.”

“Ultimately what this means is that we want to get people connected to the rich heritage of the region,” Stewart added.

The historical and cultural significance of the area to the Grand Ronde Tribe is complicated. The people of the Tribe were driven out of the land surrounding the falls by the U.S. government after the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855. According to the Tribe’s website, “The existence of Willamette Falls on the landscape represents the physical realization of our oral history and stories. Willamette Falls represents home—the home of our ancestors from the Charcowah village of the Clowewalla (Willamette band of Tumwaters) and the Kosh-huk-shix Village of Clackamas people.”

In an interview with KGW, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy said that through the land purchase they've “reclaimed a piece of their homeland and are resurrecting their role as caretakers to Willamette Falls.”

The Tribe released plans for the 23-acre site in March. The property will be an extension of downtown Oregon City, and according to KGW, the plans “include a mix of office, retail, restaurant, educational and public spaces.” The Tribe will also build a riverwalk to provide a close-up view of the falls.

According to The Oregonian, the Tribe looks forward to “a chance for Indigenous communities to once again have a strong, year-round presence at Willamette Falls.” They will create “space for tribal members to hold ceremonies near the waterfall . . . every year, members of Oregon tribes visit the waterfall to harvest lamprey, a prehistoric eel-like creature that has been caught there for thousands of years.”

To support this annual practice, the Tribe is also planning “extensive environmental rehabilitation of the area by removing industrial structures and restoring habitat for salmon, lamprey and other aquatic species.”

In an interview with The Oregonian, chief of staff to the Grand Ronde Tribal Council Stacia Hernandez said the property will be “safe for the public in two to three years.”

Stewart expressed excitement about the plans. She told The Crescent, “I believe this sale and current renovation will be a benefit to the area as they will allow the community to learn more about the area's history and will maintain the Tribe's access to the falls.”