Posted in Oregon September 16, 2020 by

Take A Stroll Through The Dalles In Oregon To See Vibrant Murals Of The Town’s History

Oregonians celebrate the vibrant history of our state in many different ways. The community of The Dalles is especially proud of its past, and you can soak in some of its stories on a tour of more than a dozen beautiful murals when you visit. Take a look:

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
You'll find the town of The Dalles in the Columbia River Gorge. It's home to around 16,000 people, a huge dam, and a whole lot of history.
Wayne Hsieh/flickr
The town celebrates its rich history with more than a dozen murals that are painted on the sides of buildings in the downtown area.
Robby G C/Tripadvisor
The murals go all the back in time 10,000 years with the mural, "The Dalles, Northwest Trading Center For 10,000 Years."
Robby G C/Tripadvisor
This mural celebrates the ancient people who lived in this area. They fished salmon out of the Columbia River and traded it with other visiting tribes.
Another mural, "Sahaptin Medicine Man," portrays the medicine man of the Sahaptin-speaking people, who lived in the Celilo Falls area.
Robby G C/Tripadvisor
"Corps of Discovery: Into the Narrows" brings us to the early years of the 19th century with the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
half-Brit/Tripadvisor
The expedition was faced with a dangerous mission - crossing the narrows, a three-mile-long, whitewater stretch of the Columbia River that was just 45 feet wide. They made it through the treacherous stretch of river and continued on their journey.
By the 1830s, white settlers were arriving, and Reverend Daniel Lee and Reverend H.K.W. Perkins arrived in The Dalles to preach Christianity to the native people. "Rock of Ages (Pulpit Rock)" portrays the rock where the reverends held their services.
Robby G C/Tripadvisor
You can still see Pulpit Rock on Court Street, near the high school.
Umatilla House was once a bustling hotel here in The Dalles, and it's memorialized in the mural, "Umatilla House 1857-1930."
Robby G C/Tripadvisor
This world-famous hotel welcomed dozens of famous guests and was quite a going concern. It burned down twice, was heavily damaged in the floor of 1894, and was torn down in 1930.
"Where Wheat Is King" connects The Dalles' history to current times. Wheat has long been the favored crop in this area, and you'll still find the landscape covered in beautiful wheat fields south and east of town today.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
The next time you visit The Dalles, make plans to stop by to see all of the historic murals here!
The Dalles Mural Society

Read more about each mural on The Dalles Mural Society website, where you’ll also find directions. Have you seen the murals firsthand? We’d love to read about your visit and see your photos in our Facebook comments!

For another blast from the past, visit the National Neon Sign Museum while you’re in The Dalles (you’ll want to call ahead for a reservation).

Address: The Dalles, OR 97058, USA