Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

“Time prints of the millennia are boldly etched on the walls of the Columbia Gorge. They record a 40-million-year-long story of change, endurance and majesty.”

Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum brings to life the human stories and natural history of one of our nation’s most compelling landscapes. The mission of the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum is to share the story of Skamania County and the Columbia River Gorge. The Skamania County Historical Society will assemble, collect, preserve, exhibit and make available for future generations any and all historical data, information and artifacts, obtained for the education and enjoyment of Skamania County and Columbia River Gorge residents and visitors. We invite you to come experience 15,000 years of history.

The logo for the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center is the petroglyph, “Tsagaglalal” or “She Who Watches.” Tsagaglalal is located on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River at Columbia Hills State Park (formerly known as Horse Thief State Park) in Washington. It is one of the best examples of aboriginal art in the United States.

The largest gallery in the museum is Harvesting Resources, which focuses on the timber and fishing industries in the Gorge. It also contains a waterfall. Four very large artifacts are on display.

The First Peoples exhibit focuses on the history of the original people to live in this area of the Gorge, the Cascade Chinook. The Emory Strong Library is also visible, showing his collection of early-man artifacts.