McNary Dam and the Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center

Hello, Keelie here! Today I visited McNary Dam and the Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center. The facility is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Lewis, Clark, and of course my ancestor Seaman passed through this area October 19, 1805 on their journey to the Pacific Ocean. Today, rather than the free flowing river Seaman saw, the large McNary Dam creates a reservoir to provide electricity and water to the locality. Visitors to the dam can learn about the dam, nearby wildlife, and surrounding area at the Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center. I got to have lots of fun at the visitor center...I even went to programs about salmon and hydropower!

At the Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center I got to see the iconic Pacific Salmon and some of the local wildlife that call this part of the Columbia River their home. There were so many fun things to sniff inside the visitor center, including some taxidermy animals! The visitor center even has a juvenile fish facility where visitors can view the fish! A big job for the US Army Corps of Engineers at the dam is ensuring Pacific Salmon populations can move up and down the Columbia River, just like the Corps of Discovery did.

Inside the Visitor Center I saw some reproduction items that Lewis and Clark carried with them on their long journey to the Pacific Ocean. The display shows off American Indian trade goods, uniform items, and scientific instruments. Also, the above the display was important information for being safe while enjoying the water. Make sure to wear a life jacket! I’m sure Lewis, Clark, and Seaman would have worn life jackets if they had access to them! In fact, many members of the Corps of Discovery could not swim, making boat travel pretty dangerous!

I also got to see McNary Lock and Dam. The dam provides hydropower for the Pacific Northwest and is located on the former Umatilla Rapids area of the Columbia River approximately 300 miles upstream from the Pacific Ocean. The dam creates hydropower when the water flows down through a powerhouse with a turbine. The water spins the turbine, which in turn spins coils of wires, which creates electricity. Power lines then carry the electricity to people like you! I had a lot of fun here at the McNary Dam, and I can’t wait to talk to you all again soon!

Learn more about McNary Dam and the Pacific Salmon Visitor Information Center:
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Learn more about the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail:
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Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.