So looking to get out and move and to stay dry Lori and I headed down to Champoeg State Park for a walk and exploration. We got an eight plus mile walk in and a lot of exploration.
Champoeg is a state park that mixes lot together. There is the historic part of the part where 102 men gathered in 1843 to vote to form the first provincial government. This would lead to Oregon becoming a territory and finally a state. The park also offer many recreation activities, like walking, to a diverse group of visitors. We extended our walk from the park over to the Butteville Store, the longest continually operating store in the state. It was interesting to see the historic store and information on the roll early steamships played in the formation of the Willamette Valley.
Arriving at the parking area at Champoeg State Park Visitor Center. Not many folks around.
Champoeg State Park Visitor Center entry.
The deck area at the visitor center. The stairs lead down to the path to get to the rest of the park.
This banner must be used for summer talk and instruction.
View from the deck at the visitor center back to the bathrooms.
Shorter winter hours. Summer hour are much longer.
First was Hudson Bay Company and the fur trade.
The start of gentrification in Oregon.
The show the meeting to form a Provencal government. A 102 men met, half the population of the valley, to vote.
Copies the the documents.
Showing the layout of Champoeg.
Historical Society gathered to mark the spot of the gathering.
The path leaving the visitor center center.
Oldest structure in Oregon. It ain’t exactly a roman villa but it is better then a hollowed out tree stumped.
The area around the visitor center had signs and trails leading to spots of interest.
Summer would have a garden here like the old homestead would have.
Apple orchard with ancestor apple stock.
View from the deck at the visitor center out into the park.
Most of the park is down in the flood plan area. In 1881 a flood swept away the town of Champoeg.
Shared bike and foot path. In the trees to the left is the frisbee golf course.
A great place for Frisbee golf.
The teeing off pad.
Our route took down to the Willamette River
Hiking trail by the shore of the river.
The park has its own dock. Could be a good place to put in for a paddle.
Looking down the Willamette River.
In the further field they are working to bring back dry Prairie Land.
The park is in winter mode. Not any crowds this time of year.
Looking across the prairie to the visitor center.
At this point the prairie transition to where the old town site was.
This monument show the spot where the Hudson Bay Warehouse was. This is where they gathered to vote on forming a government.
The small sign half way up the building shows the high water mark of the 1881 food.
This sign give a brief history on Champoeg.
Being an Oregon State Park they of course had great facilities. Clean and heated.
There was a series of post that showed where the streets intersections were.
The parked offer yurts, cabins, and camp sites to stay in.
I am getting old enough I remember when the prices were a quarter of this. I am now sounding like my grandmother.
One of the cabins in a wooded setting. These are very popular so you have book well in advance on the weekends and summer.
We took the 2 mile path over to Butteville.
some of the infrastructure is showing its age.
Going by a winter wet land area. The frogs were already out.
The historic Butteville store. The oldest continues operating store in Oregon.
Butteville was a steamship town and this one of the early stores in the town. The town is just residential now.
The store walls were cover with historic photos.
An old steam boat ships wheel.
Historic Books
The store is now used for a cafe.
Today’s specials and order counter. I had one of their buttermilk biscuits.
This was where the bank was cut away for a road to get down to the steamships. It did not take much back then to put a place on the map.
Heading back up the visitor center after our 8 mile walk.