Advocates for Willamette Falls Heritage

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Advocates for Willamette Falls Heritage Preserving and sharing the stories of human enterprise and the power of the water at the great Falls of the Willamette River.

The Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization established to raise funds for historic preservation, education, and other heritage-related programs and advocacy in an area reaching from the mouth of the Clackamas River to the mouth of the Tualatin River. We have been celebrating industrial history in the falls area since 2002. We may be reached at PO Box 635, West Linn, OR, 97068. The foundation is also focused on raising public awareness of West Linn oral history and the under-interpreted historic transportation and industrial resources near Willamette Falls. Board members remain committed to increasing public involvement in preservation and building visionary, constructive partnerships with all Oregon heritage partners, for the good of the preservation community and the enrichment of Oregonians' quality of life.

Not Willamette Falls heritage but... some similarities.There has been considerable interest in the huge fire that destro...
08/09/2026

Not Willamette Falls heritage but... some similarities.
There has been considerable interest in the huge fire that destroyed Centennial Mill's last remaining building. And judging from all the social media comments, the public has suddenly gained an awareness of historic structures- and why more of an effort wasn't made to save and repurpose them.
A similar situation exists in West Linn with the historic mill buildings on Moore's Island. The Willamette Falls Paper mill is about the same vintage as Centennial Mills, except it is less decrepit.
Wouldn't it be worth considering saving at least some of these fine examples of our past through adaptive reuse along with public access to the Falls?
Here are some memories of Centennial Mill from 2015. These scenes have now vanished.

Falls Friday!This week PGE was doing maintenance on the dam's flow control gates and closed its three inflatable bladder...
08/01/2026

Falls Friday!
This week PGE was doing maintenance on the dam's flow control gates and closed its three inflatable bladders. With the main flow cut off, the center throat of the Falls was dry as water was diverted through the crest gate.
Here are some views of this rather rare event at the Falls.

Falls Friday!If you're enjoying your A/C on these hot days, you'll appreciate that some of your power comes from PGE's ...
07/25/2026

Falls Friday!
If you're enjoying your A/C on these hot days, you'll appreciate that some of your power comes from PGE's T.W. Sullivan hydroelectric plant in West Linn.
Producing electricity since 1895, the plant's 13 generators produce 16,000 kilowatts which is enough power to supply 11,000 homes.

Falls Friday!Let's beat the heat with a stroll through the cool, shadowy depths of Willamette Falls Paper Company.
07/10/2026

Falls Friday!
Let's beat the heat with a stroll through the cool, shadowy depths of Willamette Falls Paper Company.

Wishing you a happy, safe, and festive 4th of July from your friends at The Advocates!
07/04/2026

Wishing you a happy, safe, and festive 4th of July from your friends at The Advocates!

Falls Friday!Here's to hoping we'll see scenes like these in the not-too-distant future: Lots of people visiting the Fal...
07/04/2026

Falls Friday!
Here's to hoping we'll see scenes like these in the not-too-distant future: Lots of people visiting the Falls and enjoying the view next to the Locks as passenger vessels and recreational craft pass through.
These images are from LockFest 2010.

A previous post on the LADY B's demise generated several responses from folks personally interested in saving her. Well,...
06/23/2026

A previous post on the LADY B's demise generated several responses from folks personally interested in saving her. Well, people, here's your chance...
The tugboat is currently being auctioned off in Woodburn. High bid is presently $275.
Check it out here: https://bid.barnoneauction.com/lot/306864401/tug-boat?ref=catalog

Falls 'Flashboard' Friday!It's that time of year when PGE installs flashboard to raise the pool level at The Falls to ma...
06/05/2026

Falls 'Flashboard' Friday!
It's that time of year when PGE installs flashboard to raise the pool level at The Falls to maintain adequate flow for the T.W. Sullivan hydro plant during summer's low water.
On Wednesday all three flow control gates were opened, lowering the pool to allow crews access to the dam's lip. With their work completed the 'spillways' were closed and the pool refilled on Friday.

The last bit of Blue Heron's structures east of Main St. are coming down. The chip silo is the excavator's latest victim...
06/03/2026

The last bit of Blue Heron's structures east of Main St. are coming down. The chip silo is the excavator's latest victim, leaving only the iconic acid tank. Will it remain?

Falls Friday... there's not much left of Blue Heron.The sulfite plant portion of Mill C is the last remaining building o...
04/18/2026

Falls Friday... there's not much left of Blue Heron.
The sulfite plant portion of Mill C is the last remaining building on the east side of old Main Street. But as of today it's almost gone...

Address

P. O. Box 635
West Linn, OR
97068

Telephone

(503) 650-9570

Website

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