Fort Columbia (Chinook, Pacific County, Washington)
Chinook, Pacific County · Washington · World War II era
History & Significance
On June 6, 1896, the US Congress authorized the construction of a gun battery on Chinook Point as part of the Endicott Board's coastal defense modernization program. The Endicott Board in 1886 estimated the cost of defenses for the Portland area, which include Forts Canby and Columbia on the Washington side of the Columbia River mouth, at $2,919,000.
Two 8-inch disappearing guns were installed on April 25, 1898, and a third was added a few months later, with the completed battery not transferred to the Army until June 28, 1900. Battery Ord was named for US Army First Lieutenant Jules Garesche Ord, killed in action on July 1, 1898, leading the 10th Cavalry at San Juan Hill, Cuba.
On July 13, 1899, the post was officially named "Fort Columbia" by order of President William McKinley. The three forts of the Columbia River Harbor Defense were placed in inactive status in 1930, with two officers and 39 enlisted men assigned to maintain all three facilities.
In World War II, Fort Columbia was quickly reactivated, and work was begun on an additional gun battery, Battery 246. During World War II, Fort Columbia was responsible for the mines that were placed in the river to protect the area from potential invasion. On May 11, 1950, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission acquired 285 acres of the Fort Columbia military reservation under terms of the Federal Lands to Parks Act.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Historic artillery batteries and fortifications from 1896-1904
- Preserved military buildings reflecting turn-of-century coastal defense
- 618-acre park with hiking trails along the Columbia River mouth
- Commanding views of the river estuary and surrounding landscape
Sources
- https://www.parks.wa.gov/506/Fort-Columbia
- https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/fort-columbia-state-park-history
- https://www.nps.gov/places/fort-columbia-historical-state-park.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Columbia_State_Park
- https://waparks.org/parks/fort-columbia/
- https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/fort-columbia-historical-state-park/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Fortifications
- https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/coastal-forts-endicott.htm
- https://cdsg.org/modern-u-s-harbor-defense-construction-1886-191-the-endicott-and-taft-boards/
- https://chinookobserver.com/2022/10/10/fort-columbia-glimpse-countys-military-past/
- https://www.dailyastorian.com/life/weekend-break-historic-fort-columbia/article_46785974-3dc9-11ed-966b-4bb0250f5ca4.html
- https://cdsg.org/fort-columbia/
- https://parks.wa.gov/about/news-center/field-guide-blog/fort-and-family-peacetime-occupants-fort-columbia