Check out this piece in Orion about the dams of the Columbia River and Woody Guthrie's 1941 journey to that area. The article wonders what Woody would have thought about the dams now. Go to http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/3041/

They play Woody songs in the visitor center at the Bonneville Dam.

Edited to say: I posted before I read the article. I live on the Sandy River. They just blew up a dam here that makes the Sandy a straight shot from the glacier on Mount Hood to the Columbia River.

The dams suck up our natural resources...but they also make it possible for us to post stuff like this on the internet.

I dunno.

WOW Bill, lots of childhood memories came flooding back while reading that article!! Those songs were in the background of my childhood in Oregon. And those words... his description of the Pacific Northwest hits the nail on the head! I've lived most of my adult life here in beautiful OZ but my heart still belongs to Oregon. Hopefully when I retire I can spend alot more time "back home".

I have an Oregon plate hanging on the wall in the kitchen which depicts those fishing platforms that disapeared. My Dad is a member of the Oregon Historical Society and I have read some very interesting articles in their magazines over the years about those times when unfortunately
some Indian customs in some areas were lost because of the dams.

It still goes on today of course, we've had protests here in Queensland recently over proposed dams. Damed if we do and Damed if we don't?

Thanks again for a great read.