Celilo Falls Salmon Catch

Celilo Falls Overlook II

Celilo Falls Vista

Celilo Chief (Dignity) 1956

Celilo Falls Dignity

Celilo Falls Close to the Action

Celilo Falls Watching and Waiting

Celilo Falls One More

Celilo Falls The Narrows

Celilo Falls Net Fishing

Celilo Falls Final Moments

Celilo Falls The Young Join In

Celilo Falls Waiting

Celilo Falls Generations

Celilo Falls Above the Narrows

Celilo Falls One Last Time

Celilo Falls Cleaning the Salmon

Celilo Falls Dignity II

Celilo Falls Platforms Over the Rapids

Celilo Falls A Thoughtful Moment

Imagine a place where the powerful echo of falling water resonates through the air, where cascading waterfalls and rapids cut through the rugged terrain. Celilo Falls, also known as Wyam, was once such a place. This historic waterfall on the Columbia River in Oregon was a magnificent sight. It was once the largest falls in North America, larger than Niagra Falls.

For over 10,000 years, Celilo Falls was a bustling activity center for Native American tribes. It served as a crucial fishing and trading hub, providing a vital food source and facilitating the exchange of goods. The wooden platforms perched at the edge of the falls were where skilled Native American fishermen deftly caught salmon, a tradition that spanned generations.

In 1957, the falls were submerged with the construction of The Dalles Dam. The photographs in this collection capture the essence of Celilo Falls during one of its final fishing ceremonies in 1956, preserving the memory of this culturally significant site.

Stefani Fine Art

Diane

Echo of Falling Water: The Lost Legacy of Celilo Falls (1956) by Richard Stefani