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A noteworthy architectural feature is the observation building encircled by the scenic old Columbia River Highway. The Vista House was built in 1916 to provide a vantage point and rest stop for motorists. Crown Point also marks the beginning of the "Waterfall Corridor" that features eight waterfalls along the historic highway, including Multnomah Falls.
Poems on the Vista House Pillars Located in the Rotunda

The inside of the dome and its supporting ribs were painted to simulate the marble and bronze originally planned for the structure. The building is a popular tourist stop for drivers on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The building was refurbished and the interior restored to its 1916 appearance; it reopened in 2005 after five years of restoration work.[10] The roof was completely rebuilt with new tiles and an underlying membrane. Interior work comprised finish repair and replacement, upgrading the sewer system, and the installation of a geothermal heat pump system.
L.A. Homebuyers Turn To Mar Vista As Santa Monica And Venice Prices Soar
Head upstairs to walk around the viewing deck at the second story of Vista House and admire the surroundings. While many people would think that would be enough to visit the historic house and visitor center, there is more to Vista House than the natural views that surround it – there is the history of the house, gorge and state. Portland architect Edgar M. Lazarus intended his extravagant two-story structure to stand as a “temple” to the natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Built on the Crown Point promontory along America’s oldest scenic highway, the octagonal “Vista House” still serves as a place where travelers can take in the view and wonder at the harrowing journey of the Oregon Trail pioneers.
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Visiting Crown Point Vista House
The building’s peachy-hued walls are pink limestone, which arches fluidly upwards toward a domed ceiling whose supporting ribs are each adorned with a bust of unidentified Native Americans. The sandstone exterior creates the illusion that the observatory was carved out of the mountain itself — a steadfast symbol of Oregon’s connection to the state’s stunning natural beauty. The Friends of Vista House has partnered with Oregon State Parks since 1982 to help preserve the building and share its story with the public.
History of Vista House
Edgar M. Lazarus, Portland architect and member of the Vista House Association, was selected to design Vista House in 1915. Vista House is an example of German “Art Nouveau” architecture. Native Italian craftsmen built retaining walls and bridges for the Columbia River Highway and laid the rockwork surrounding Vista House.
Vista House in Crown Point State Scenic Corridor in Columbia River Gorge
Crown Point serves as a gateway to Columbia River Gorge and if you reminisce on the point’s early name, Thor’s Heights, you’ll recognize the epic power of the views. “What amazes me is that they thought to build this place with 20 bathrooms, when at the time there were only about 20 cars,” said Ken Overton, a volunteer with the Friends of Vista House, a group that greets travelers at the historic destination. We are a promoter and steward of this evolving city and its progressive values, which have the power to transform the travelers who visit us.
State Scenic Corridor
The 227-acre parcel of land runs along the western border of Mar Vista meaning many residents would have walkable access to the potential landmark. Many of these newly developed properties rival the best of the Westside of Los Angeles, featuring the same high-end finishes and luxury amenities found in the most affluent parts of town. Like many neighborhoods undergoing a modernization of real estate supply, Mar Vista’s new properties distinguish themselves with unique architecture from the city’s top designers. In 1994, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the State Historic Preservation Office and the Friends of Vista House agreed to combine their efforts and finance a detailed structural study to assess the current condition of the historic Vista House. It would be used as a “blueprint” for restoration efforts of the OPRD & the Friends organization.
This stunning canyon was created over millions of years, and it’s up to 4,000 feet deep. For some of the best views of this stunning natural wonder, visitors take the winding road up to Vista House, a historic treasure that’s one of the Beaver State’s most well-loved landmarks. Inside, walk across the marble floors to a desk where docents offer visitor information for the Vista House and Columbia River Gorge. In the basement, you can browse exhibits, peruse a gift shop, use the bathrooms, and enjoy hot drinks from the espresso bar.
Between watching the road and marveling at the craggy bluffs surrounding you, it can be easy to miss seeing the Crown Point Vista House perched atop a rocky outcropping hundreds of feet above. Edgar Lazarus designed Vista House as an example of modern German architecture, or the German equivalent of Art Nouveau. Native Italian craftsmen who built retaining walls and bridges for the Columbia River Highway laid its foundation. Within roughly 10 minutes, residents of Mar Vista can find themselves on the sands of Venice Beach or in the heart of downtown Culver City. Santa Monica Pier is about five miles northwest or roughly a 15-minute drive.
Since 1918, this regal sight has enthralled millions of travelers. From its surrounding vantage point 733 feet above the Columbia River and overlooking the busy I-84, countless sightseers and photographers have enjoyed a step back in time and one of Oregon’s most inspiring views. In 2001, a $1.1 million restoration project was started to bring Vista House back to its historic glory. On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser knownhistoric sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area.
Volunteers greet visitors, conduct tours and operate the gift shop. The octagonal building houses a museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge. Additional information about the site's history can be found in our Vista House brochure. From outside Vista House, and from the viewing deck that wraps around its second story, you’ll find a sweeping panorama. Look east up the Columbia River Gorge, where steep cliffs frame the wide river. If you’ve hiked to Angel’s Rest, you should be able to distinguish that natural landmark to the east.
That being said, more businesses are moving to Mar Vista—in particular, a wave of new, well-received restaurants have Los Angeles foodies abuzz. For many years, the western Los Angeles neighborhood of Mar Vista has been a relatively unknown pocket of the city—one that you could drive through on your way to the beach and not know its name. Filled with single-family homes and a suburban feel, there was little reason for those who didn’t live in Mar Vista to traverse its tree-lined streets. T-Shirts and Gifts from the official souvenirs of Americasbesthistory.com. You also haven’t experienced Oregon until you get your first taste of the winds that scream down the gorge. Since the gorge funnels weather and wind, you get the most powerful straight wind in the country by some estimates.
No state dollars were available, leaving the project dependent on funds provided by Multnomah County and donations from private parties. When the efforts to raise funds from the general public did not develop as hoped, the bulk of the construction costs were paid by Multnomah County with only around $4,000 coming from private sources, including school children. The construction of the Vista House was inspired by the builders of the old gorge thoroughfare who were also the most prominent and wealthy of Portland’s citizenry. Upon its completion, the highway was hailed as a “tremendous feat in highway construction,” reflecting the visions of its builders to reconcile nature and civilization and the vision for Vista House was born. Few places combine nature’s wonders and human architectural brilliance so majestically. Once called “Thor’s Heights,” Crown Point is a basalt promontory shaped by the same volcanic lava flows, floods and winds that created the Columbia River Gorge.
Viewed as a major step in preserving the building, contractors restored the stone building’s outside surface from the top of its roofline to the base. Much of the effort was intended to prevent leaks that had caused water damage to the interior for the preceding 50 years. Contractors replaced an existing layer of copper roofing and original tile with new, strong tiles designed to match the original honey, green and gold colors. Workers also restored masonry pointing and stone walls (the stone was supplied by the quarry that provided the original material); replaced balcony decks; repaired balcony windows, and installed a security surveillance system.
Here the 1916 Vista House observatory, an art nouveau–style rotunda, houses a visitor center, gift shop and snack stand. Built under the direction of a Multnomah County road master, John B. Yeon, the structure is 44 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. The roof, which for almost 50 years was capped with a copper roof, now has its crown restored to the original matte-glazed green tiles. Vista House is approximately 44 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. The floors and stairs in the rotunda and the wainscoting in the lower level are Tokeen Alaskan marble. Most of the interior of the rotunda is light cream and pink Kasota limestone (marble), including the hand-carved drinking fountains.