Vista House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vista House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Vista House
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 40700 E Historic Columbia River Highway Corbett, Oregon |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1916–1918 |
| Architect | Edgar M. Lazarus |
| Architectural style | Art Nouveau Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001705 |
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1974 |
Vista House is a special building located at Crown Point in Multnomah County, Oregon. It serves as a museum and a place to remember the brave Oregon pioneers. It's also a rest stop for people traveling on the Historic Columbia River Highway.
This amazing building sits on a rocky cliff, about 733 feet (223 meters) above the Columbia River. It offers incredible views of the Columbia River Gorge. The Vista House is shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape) and is made of stone. It was designed by Edgar M. Lazarus in a style called Art Nouveau. Construction finished in 1918.
In 2000, a big project began to fix up the building. This restoration work took five years to complete. Vista House is near the town of Corbett. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. People also love visiting Vista House to see the amazing aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
Contents
History of Vista House
Building the Vista House
The Vista House was designed by Edgar M. Lazarus, a famous architect from Oregon. When it was being built, some people joked that it was a very expensive "outhouse" because of its fancy marble inside and shiny brass parts. The project cost about $70,000 for the building itself. There were also costs for a rock wall, paving, and the architect's fees.
The idea for a viewing spot at Crown Point came from Samuel Lancaster. He was an engineer working on the Columbia River Highway. Lancaster imagined a place where people could quietly enjoy the beautiful views of the Columbia River. Building the Vista House started on December 29, 1916. It was finished in 1918 and officially opened on May 5, 1918.
Samuel Lancaster also suggested the name "Vista House." A group of important business and community leaders from Portland tried to raise money for the project. However, most of the money for building it came from Multnomah County. John B. Yeon was in charge of supervising the construction.
Architectural Style
Edgar Lazarus's design for Vista House includes features from a German art style called Jugendstil. This style was popular in Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The building is a round room, called a rotunda, that is 44 feet (13 meters) across. It has eight sides and sits on a wider base that is 64 feet (20 meters) across. This base holds restrooms and a gift shop.
The rotunda itself is 55 feet (17 meters) tall. Stairs inside lead up to a viewing platform near the dome (the rounded roof). The outside of the building is made of gray sandstone, and the roof has green tiles. Inside, the building is decorated with lots of marble, even in the restrooms. The inside of the dome is lined with bronze. The windows near the top have colorful, milky glass in simple patterns.
Restoration Efforts
Vista House is a very popular place for tourists driving along the Historic Columbia River Highway. The building was carefully fixed up and its inside was made to look just like it did in 1916. It reopened in 2005 after five years of restoration work.
The roof was completely rebuilt with new tiles and a special waterproof layer underneath. The outside of the building was finished being restored by 2002. Inside, workers repaired and replaced finishes, updated the sewer system, and put in a special heating and cooling system that uses heat from the ground. The restoration also added a lift to make Vista House accessible for people with disabilities.
From the top of Vista House, which you can reach by stairs, you can see the cities of Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington to the west. To the east, you can see Beacon Rock, which is on the Washington side of the gorge.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department owns Vista House. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 5, 1974. Crown Point, where Vista House stands, was named a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Vista House is a very important part of the Columbia River Highway, which is a National Historic Landmark.
Gallery
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A postcard from 1918 showing the Vista House dedication
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The north side of the building and the middle floor
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A close-up of the ceiling inside
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A detail of a Native American sculpture inside
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The view of the Columbia River from Vista House
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Vista House at sunset
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See also
External links
- Friends of Vista House
- Crown Point State Scenic Corridor at the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
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