The Dalles, Oregon

Welcome to The Dalles, Oregon

The Dalles, Oregon is one of the oldest permanently occupied places in the state. The area has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years, and was a major trading center for Native Americans. The Dalles is located on a bend in the Columbia River, at the east end of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  The Dalles is the third oldest incorporated city in Oregon. It was a major player in the local area’s commerce, politics, military, and navigation. The Dalles was also the end of the overland route, unless people chose to continue on to Oregon City.  The Dalles is named after the French word for “rapids of a river”. French-Canadian trappers named the area, and emigrants floated down the Columbia River in rafts through the gorge.  The Dalles Lock and Dam began generating power in 1957. The dam was built to generate power for regional industrial growth and to improve inland navigation.