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It is a horseshoe shaped block waterfall caused by a basalt shelf in the river floor. The 40 ft (12m) high and 1500 ft (457m) wide falls occur 13 river miles upstream from the Willamette's confluence with the Columbia River.
Native American legends taught that the falls were placed there by a great god so that their people would have fish to eat all winter. Many local tribes built villages in the area because of the abundance of salmon that were blocked by the falls. It was first discovered by European fur traders in 1810. Oregon City, Oregon was established in 1842 near the east end of the falls, and what is now West Linn, Oregon was formed on the western shore 1843.
The falls were not navigable until the completion of the Willamette Falls Locks in 1873. This four lock canal is the oldest continuous operating, multiple lift navigation canal in the United States. The locks were sold by the Willamette Falls Canal and Locks Company to the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1955.
The Willamette Falls Electric Company (later renamed Portland General Electric) was formed in 1888 to build a hydro-electric generation facility at the falls. Four turbine driven dynamos were built on the east end of the falls. A 14 mile long transmission line to PortlandPortland is the largest city in Oregon, and county seat of Multnomah County. It is a major Pacific seaport located about sixty miles from the west coast of the United States, situated on both sides of the Willamette River, just south of its confluence wit was built, becoming the United States' first long distance transmission of electrical energy for commercial purposes. In 1895Events January events January 5 Dreyfus Affair: French officer Alfred Dreyfus is stripped of his rank and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island. February events February 14 First showing of Oscar Wilde's last play The Importance of Being Earnes Portland General Electric built a second generation station on the west side of the falls. The newer plant, Station B, is still in operation with a capacity of 14,000 Kilowatts. The old plant is currently part of the Blue Heron Paper Company.
The falls have been home to several paper mills beginning with the Oregon City Paper Manufacturing Co. in 18661866 is a common year starting on Monday. Events January 6 Ottoman troops clash with men of a Maronite leader Karam in St. Doumit in Lebanon Turks are defeated January 12 Royal Aeronautical Society is formed ( London) January 28 800 Maronite troops clash. The Willamette Falls Pulp and Paper Co. opened on the West Linn side during 1889Events January-April January 8 Herman Hollerith receives a patent for his electric tabulating machine January 22 Columbia Phonograph is formed in Washington, DC. February 11 Meiji Constitution of Japan adopted; 1st Diet convenes in 1890 January 30 ? Crown. The ownership of the mills has change several times; the present day owners are the West Linn Paper Company and the Blue Heron Paper Company.
The industrialization of the area led to diminishing salmon runs, prompting the construction of a fish ladder in 1882Events February 2 The Knights of Columbus are formed in New Haven, Connecticut February 7 In Mississippi City the last heavyweight boxing championship bareknuckle fight takes place. March 2 Robert Maclean fails to assassinate Queen Victoria at Windsor Mar. A new fish ladder, built in 19711971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). Events January January 1 British divorce Reform Act comes into force January 2 66 die in stairway crush at Rangers v Celtic football match, Glasgow, Scotland. See Ibrox disaster. Janua is currently operated by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.