McGowan, Washington facts for kids

St. Mary's Catholic Church

McGowan was once a busy place in Pacific County, Washington, United States. It was a stop on an old railway line called the Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company. This railway ran from 1889 to 1930. McGowan is located near the north end of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Today, the most famous building left is an old wooden church.

Discovering McGowan's Past

McGowan was named after a man named P.J. McGowan. In the late 1800s, he bought land in this area. He paid $1,200 for it, which was a lot of money back then! Mr. McGowan then built his own house there. He also built a dock and a place to can salmon. This helped the area grow.

The Railway Days

The Ilwaco Railway and Navigation Company was very important to McGowan. This railway used a special type of track called "narrow gauge." This means the tracks were closer together than regular train tracks. The main railway line ran right through McGowan. There was also a "passing siding" here. This was an extra track where trains could wait for other trains to pass. The railway helped people and goods travel along the Long Beach Peninsula.

A Hub for Travel

McGowan was also a key spot for travel by water. From 1925 to 1932, one of the docks for the Astoria-Megler Ferry route was located here. Ferries are boats that carry people and cars across water. This ferry connected McGowan to Astoria, Oregon, across the Columbia River. Later, the Astoria-Megler Bridge was built. This bridge made it much easier for people to cross the river by car. McGowan is just west of the bridge's north end.

What Remains Today?

Most of the old buildings in McGowan are gone now. But one important structure still stands. This is an old wooden Roman Catholic church. It reminds us of McGowan's past and its history as a community.