Fort Stevens State Park

Some of the great highlights you will find here at Ft. Stevens are the picturesque views from plenty of vantages beach side against the Pacific Ocean or the Fresh Water Columbia River.

Meandering around the northern confines of the state park you find yourself at the confluence of the
Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.

From this area you are sure to see the passing cargo ship, bald eagles, sand pipers and much of what you would expect from a classic Northwest beach scene.

Make sure to bring the binoculars to spy on the birds of prey in action!

Heading further South on the beach you will come across the ship wreck of the Peter Iredale. Grounded in 1906 while on a voyage from Salina Cruz Mexico to Portland OR, the wreck of the Peter Iredale is still visible today.

And for the beachcomber there are jellfish galore, sand dollars, beach glass, sea shells, driftwood, and the occasional buoy. - go figure this is Oregon after all!

Photo credits: Van de Graeff 2007

From the Civil War to soon after the Second World War Fort Stevens had been the guardian of the entrance to the Columbia River.

Ft. Stevens has changed hand periodically but now is an Oregon State Park, which has endeavored to preserve this bit of American history.

Some of the early defenses were installed in 1800's at the west battery.

The Battery Meriwether Lewis pictured right was one of the locations of the early defenses.

Several upgrades to this military complex took place through World War Two. One of which was the Battery Pratt pictured right.

Battery Pratt protected the Columbia River mine field with two, six inch rifles on disappearing carriages.

To the right you see a position vacated of its weaponry.

Illustrated to the right is one of these rifles in a retracted position. These rifles mind you weigh one ton each!

The Fort Stevens Military Museum boasts many other features and outbuildings to explore.

Take time to stop into the museum building for interesting displays of military ephemera including: uniforms from the civil, 1st & 2nd World Wars, military weaponry from many periods, and a scale model of the entire fort with a working train!

These displays highlight various stages that Fort Stevens experienced from one era to the next in an effort to protect our coast from harm.

The Clatsop Tribe first inhabited the area where Ft. Stevens now resides.

According to historic maps of this area, a Clatsop village was situated on the north shore of Pt. Adams.

In 1994 a replica of a Clatsop long house was constructed. Like most of the other structures located at Ft. Stevens, this one is also interactive.

Take a peek and go inside of this wonderful construction.

It was an interesting coincidence that this visit to Fort. Stevens State Park featured a Civil War reenactment of a shore party.

It got off to a friendly start with cannon fire? huh.

Suddenly eager reenactors appeared willing to shed some light on the early beginnings of what was to become Fort. Stevens.

The displays of the reeactment were quite informative and the participants had an answer to any question you could dream of.

While the displays were authentic looking the reenactors were quite frank about the subject, and pointed to which items were representations.

Like all things at Fort Stevens the displays were interactive as well!

As illustrated to the right all visitors were welcome to experience that era first hand.

Jumping inside one of the various tents, a glimpse of what it was like to be a civil war soldier was revealed.

Did I say there was a real cannon? Yes I did. It went off loudly several times to give the crowd shock and awe the old fashioned way.

While this performance may have been coincidental and early in the yea, everyone was reassured that performances were held regularly throughout the summer and fall.