What is National Oregon Day?
We recognize each state in the order they entered the union, beginning with Hawaii and ending with Hawaii on Independence Day. We feature a small part of each state's past, foods, and the people who make up the state. There's so much more to discover, we can't help but celebrate our beautiful country even more.
The warm Pacific air west of the Cascade Mountains and in the lush Willamette Valley is a welcome addition to Oregon's climate. In Oregon's high desert, more extreme temperature swings are present.
Populations of Nez Perce, Chinook, Molalla, and others settled along the Columbia River Gorge, Klamath Basin, and other areas east. Many of the first European explorers to land landed in the elusive Northwest Passage.
In November of 1805, the Corps of Discovery Expedition followed the Colombia River Gorge, reaching the Pacific Ocean in November. They will winter at Ft. Clatsop is the Clatsop. Pioneers will travel along what would be the Oregon Trail soon.
The gorge was created by volcanic lava flows and glacial floods. Windsurfers flock to the Columbia due to the Cascade Mountains' strong, steady winds. The Gorge's icy crown, Kayaking, biking, hiking, skiing, and many other outdoor pursuits can be found up and down the Gorge, but Mt. Hood. Lord Samuel Hood's last eruption occurred in 1865 and was named after Lord Samuel Hood.
