Fort Columbia - Reliving A Part of World War II

Last week you read about my trek to Long Beach. I'm continuing South to a new place with a great view of the Columbia River. If you're at all interested in World War II (WWII) history, you'll like this place: Fort Columbia off Highway 101 south of Ilwaco. It's one of three military installations in the surrounding area that operated during WWII. Fort Stevens (the only United States military installation fired on during the war) and Fort Canby are the other two.

Work began on Fort Columbia in 1897. Batteries Murphy and Crenshaw were also built then.

Prior to that time, the Chinook Indians lived in the area and collected whale oil and dentalia (a type of shell) for their trading livelihood with the United States government. They're currently in the process of trying to get recognition from the government and will likely join exhibitors at Fort Columbia with more of their history when they get their tribal recognition. There is a currently a small tribal display in the Interpretive Center at the Fort.

Back to my view of Fort Columbia.

The minute we drove up the steep green hill into Fort Columbia I was intrigued with the site. During high school my Washington State history teacher did not garner my attention much about war, but now I could hardly wait to learn more looking at the beautiful wood buildings built on the hill. I started to think how it must have been.

No microwaves for those soldiers, whose barracks were next door in the enlisted men's quarters. No roads like we traveled to get there, you came by boat or railroad in those days. There's a tunnel underneath the installation that was used back then by the Megler-Nahcotta Railroad. The first troops arrived at this installation with four officers and 100 enlisted men in 1903 - I don't know if by boat or train. Perhaps I should have spent more time there to inquire.

Anyway, this site opens a past and present view of what the world was like back them. You still see the pilings in the water from the dock that used to house the ferries that brought women who came to entertain the men at dances (and others, of course). My husband's great uncle piloted a steamer then on the Columbia River. I wondered if he docked there.

Looking down from on the hill you'll look past the lush green-vegetation to where mines were planted in the river during the war, past the bunker site where the weapons resided. The guns are no longer there, but you can imagine them as you view what used to be the jail next door and the river the soldiers patrolled from above, keeping a guarded watch with the other two installations.

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