Sherar's Bridge Area

Wasco County · MP 8 on OR 216

OREGON HISTORY SHERAR'S BRIDGE This area of the Deschutes River has been a river crossing and fishing location for thousands of years. Peter Skene Ogden made note of an Indian camp and bridge when he crossed here in 1826. Early pioneers using the Meek Cutoff to the Barlow Road passed here on their way to The Dalles and the Willamette Valley. John Todd built a bridge in 1860 and in 1868 a post office was established. In 1871 Joseph Sherar bought the bridge, improved the roads leading to it and built a 13 room hotel and out buildings that were later used as a stage station. Thousands of people used this crossing to reach the gold mines and ranches of Central Oregon.

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

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under a mile from where William Gabby lived in the 1760s

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Marker data: Oregon Historical Marker Program, Oregon Travel Information Council
This marker on the program's own site

More markers nearby

Cutoff to the Barlow Road14 mi
Deschutes River Crossing27 mi
Ancient Indian Fishing Grounds27 mi
The Dalles to Canyon City Wagon Road29 mi