Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway Company Air View of the Columbia River Scenic Route

A pictorial relief map of the Columbia River between the Cascade Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

This attractive map follows the course of the Columbia River between Celilo Falls and the Pacific Ocean, along the border of Washington and Oregon. The image, oriented with east at the top, is described as an air view, reflecting the contemporary public fascination with aviation, though it’s likely that topographic information was of more use than aerial photography during the map’s original creation.

Relief is depicted pictorially, with notable emphasis on Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens, and primary transportation routes are identified throughout. Particular significance is given to the routes of the Spoke, Portland, and Seattle Railway. Company lines in operation are highlighted in red, along with notable historic sites and details regarding the region’s exploration.

The verso presents photographs and information regarding various attractions and locations of interest along the Columbia River, Cascade Range, and Pacific Ocean.

“These trips through the heart of this wonderland of the Pacific Northwest give the traveler rare views, ever changing in color and composition, for hundreds of miles. The relief map tells the story of mountain, river, ocean, forest and waterfall, while the text adds some items for distance, elevation, history, points of interest, and other data along the route.”

The map was originally drawn by Fred A. Routledge and copywritten in 1916 by F.W. Baltes & Company of Portland, Oregon. It was variously re-issued in subsequent decades, offering a fascinating catalog of regional development along the Columbia River. This example has been updated to 1939 by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railroad, according to text on the front panel. The latest feature on the map is the Bonneville Dam, completed in 1938 and pictured on the front panel.