Cape Disappointment State Park
Encyclopedia
Cape Disappointment State Park, formerly known as Fort Canby State Park, is a 1882 acres (7.6 km²) park located southwest of Ilwaco, Washington
. The park is located on the southern part of Long Beach Peninsula
, which is fronted by the Pacific Ocean
. The park is one of several state parks and sites in Washington and Oregon
that make up the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
. Sights in the park include 27 miles (43.5 km) of ocean beach, the North Head Lighthouse, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. The Colbert House Museum is a nearby historic house that is open by appointment.
from possible attacks by Confederate raiders or foreign fleets. It was garrisoned by Company A, U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
and Company A, 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
in the District of Oregon. In 1863, its mate Fort Stevens
was established on the south bank of the Columbia River. In 1864, the post was renamed Fort Cape Disappointment. Some Civil War-era fortifications still exist. They were called the Tower (or Right) Battery, Left Battery, and Center Battery.
Fort Cape Disappointment was renamed Fort Canby in 1875. Later Fort Canby became part of the three fort Columbia River harbor defenses as a subpost of Fort Stevens along with Fort Columbia
.
from St. Louis, Missouri
to the Pacific coast. There are displays about the park's later history, including the lighthouses, U.S. Coast Guard and military activities, and the area's maritime and natural history. Other facilities include an observation deck, films and a gift shop.
The center sits on a cliff that overlooks the confluence of the Columbia River
and the Pacific Ocean
, and is open daily. There is an admission fee.
at the corner of Spruce and Quaker streets, the Colbert House is a historic house museum that is operated by Cape Disappointment State Park. The house was originally built in 1872 and moved to its current site in 1883. The house was owned by a fishing family and was restored in 1994 to a late 19th century appearance with Colbert family furnishings and decorative items. The museum is open by appointment only.
Colbert House is a Washington State Parks Heritage Site and on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Ilwaco, Washington
Ilwaco is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 950 at the 2000 census and decreased to 936 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The park is located on the southern part of Long Beach Peninsula
Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay...
, which is fronted by the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The park is one of several state parks and sites in Washington and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
that make up the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
The Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks, in the vicinity of the mouth of the Columbia River, commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition...
. Sights in the park include 27 miles (43.5 km) of ocean beach, the North Head Lighthouse, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
Cape Disappointment Lighthouse
The Cape Disappointment Light is a lighthouse on Cape Disappointment near the mouth of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington.- History :...
, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. The Colbert House Museum is a nearby historic house that is open by appointment.
History
In 1862, during the American Civil War, a camp called Post at Cape Disappointment was established and fortifications existed here from that date to protect the northern approaches to the mouth of the Columbia RiverColumbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
from possible attacks by Confederate raiders or foreign fleets. It was garrisoned by Company A, U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
U.S. 9th Infantry Regiment
The 9th Infantry Regiment is one of the oldest and most decorated active duty infantry units in the United States Army.- Early organizations :...
and Company A, 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry
The 8th Regiment California Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It spent its entire term of service in the western United States, serving in posts around San Francisco Bay, and on the Columbia River., attached to the Department of the...
in the District of Oregon. In 1863, its mate Fort Stevens
Fort Stevens (Oregon)
Fort Stevens was an American military installation that guarded the mouth of the Columbia River in the state of Oregon. Built near the end of the American Civil War, it was named for slain Civil War general and former Washington Territory governor, Isaac Stevens. The fort was an active military...
was established on the south bank of the Columbia River. In 1864, the post was renamed Fort Cape Disappointment. Some Civil War-era fortifications still exist. They were called the Tower (or Right) Battery, Left Battery, and Center Battery.
Fort Cape Disappointment was renamed Fort Canby in 1875. Later Fort Canby became part of the three fort Columbia River harbor defenses as a subpost of Fort Stevens along with Fort Columbia
Fort Columbia State Park
Fort Columbia State Park is a park located in Chinook, Washington. The historic park encompasses Fort Columbia, one of the few intact coastal defense sites in the United States....
.
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center features exhibits about the 1803–1806 Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
from St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to the Pacific coast. There are displays about the park's later history, including the lighthouses, U.S. Coast Guard and military activities, and the area's maritime and natural history. Other facilities include an observation deck, films and a gift shop.
The center sits on a cliff that overlooks the confluence of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, and is open daily. There is an admission fee.
Colbert House Museum
Located in Ilwaco, WashingtonIlwaco, Washington
Ilwaco is a city in Pacific County, Washington, United States. The population was 950 at the 2000 census and decreased to 936 at the 2010 census.-History:...
at the corner of Spruce and Quaker streets, the Colbert House is a historic house museum that is operated by Cape Disappointment State Park. The house was originally built in 1872 and moved to its current site in 1883. The house was owned by a fishing family and was restored in 1994 to a late 19th century appearance with Colbert family furnishings and decorative items. The museum is open by appointment only.
Colbert House is a Washington State Parks Heritage Site and on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Other park facilities
Cape Disappointment State Park offers camping facilities, hiking trails, watercraft launch sites, and a park store. Visitors can tour the North Head Lighthouse.External links
- Cape Disappointment State Park - official site
- Cape Disappointment State Park - Long Beach Area State Parks with more detailed information