Fort Columbia

Location (military name): Fort Columbia
Harbor: Columbia River
Location: Chinook Point
Years active military: 1899-1947

Notes/History/Post-coast artillery military use/Comments: Property was transferred to State of Washington in 1950s. Most of the buildings and structures remain and are open to the public. The State brought two 6-inch guns from Canada and installed them in Battery 246.

Current Status:
Current name of site: Fort Columbia State Park
Public Owners/Agency: State of Washington Dept. Rec. & Parks
Public accessibility: Yes
Museum/Interpretive Center: yes
Other Facilities: day use park, vacation rental housing

Fort Columbia Fort Columbia State Park is a 593-acre day-use historical park with 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. The park celebrates a military site that constituted the harbor defense of the Columbia River from 1896 to 1947. The fort was fully manned and operational through three wars. The area was also home for the Chinook Indians and their famed Chief Comcomly.

Virtual Tour Pages:

Garrison Buildings (Barracks, Administration, Quarters, Storehouses, Hospital)
Fire Control, Communications & power, Mine Project: Mine Casemate
Battery Jules Ord (three 8-inch guns on disappearing carriages 1898-1918)
Battery William Murphy (two 6-inch guns on disappearing carriages 1900-1945)
Battery Frank Crenshaw (three 3-inch guns on masking parapet mounts, 1900-1920)
BCN 246 two 6-inch guns on barbette carriages

Documentation examples (PDF Downloads) To order complete sets by CD or DVD, see the CDSG ePress page:

Operational History of Harbor Harbor Defenses of the Columbia (from the History of the Western Defense Command)