The CDSG Ambassador to the Columbia River forts is Jack Buckmeir. Jack states that he sometimes feels like a true ambassador as he has to negotiate between governments being that the Columbia River defenses cover Oregon and Washington. He is on the board of both Friends Groups involved in the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia River. Jack has quickly collected the following information concerning Fort Stevens, Fort Columbia, and Fort Canby. A tip of the diplomatic hat to Jack Buckmeir. This information is as of October 2001.
Current Site Owner(s): The site is currently operated jointly by the State of Oregon and the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District.
Current Site Supervisor: Mike Stein - Regional Manager
Barney Riley - Park Manager
Mailing Address: Fort Stevens State Park, Ridge Road, Hammond,
OR 97121
Telephone: (503) 861-3170 x 23
Fax: (503) 861-1672
Email: mike.stein@state.or.us
Web Site: www.visitftstevens.com
Hours of Operation: Seven days a week. (Summer Hours) 10:00 am - 6:00 pm (Winter Hours) 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Programs offered at Fort Stevens:
Living History: Blacksmith, Civil War Reenactors, 249th CAC Reenactors, Guardhouse Reenactors.
Tours: Tours given of underground Battery Mishler, 2 1/2 ton truck tours, Guardhouse Tours, self-guided tours, multilingual tours.
Museum Shop: Yes
Restoration Projects: Reconstruction of Civil War Earthworks, Reconstruction of Battery Pratt, including a replica M1897M1 6-inch on a M1898 Disappearing Carriage: (www.cdsg.org/bpratt1.htm)
Events at the Site: WWII Reenactment Memorial Day each year, Civil War Reenactment 1 week of September each year.
Overall Condition of Site: Excellent, although all that remains of many buildings are foundations. Very well interpreted, constantly improving.
Condition of individual Elements: Good condition and improving
Other Elements: Excellent displayed items. Searchlight, 155mm GPF, DPF.
Protective Status of Site: The site is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a State or local historic landmark.
Support Group: Friends of Old Fort Stevens (FOOFS)
Contact Person: Ron Kinsley, President
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 138 Hammond, OR 97121
Email: foofs@teleport.com
Phone: (503) 861-1470
Fax: (503) 861-1672
Other Contacts at the Site:
Contact: Gale Hemmen - Park Historian
Email: gale.hemmen@state.or.us
Mailing Address: Fort Stevens State Park, Historical Area Ridge
Road, Hammond, OR 97121
Phone: (503) 861-2000
Fax: (503) 861-1672
Special Situations at the Site:
The walkways of West Battery are collapsing.
Significant Elements at Fort Stevens:
Battery Mischler - 2 10-inch M1898 ARF DC
Battery Russell - 2 10-inch M1901 DC - Fired on by Japanese Submarine
Projects that would benefit from CDSG funding: Replica of 6-inch
M1897M1 on M1898 DC or Restoration of Battery Pratt or repair
of the walkways at West Battery.
Current Site Owner(s): The site is currently operated by the State of Washington State Parks
Current Site Supervisor: Evan Roberts, Park Ranger
Mailing Address: Fort Canby State Park, P. O. Box 488, Ilwaco,
WA 988624
Telephone: (360) 642-3078 - Main Office (360) 777-8221 - Museum
Fax: (360) 642-4216
Email: info@fortcanby.org
Web Site: http://www.fortcanby.org/visit/FortColumbia.html
Hours of Operation: Open Seven Days a week - Dawn to Dusk - April 1st through October 15th
Programs offered at Fort Columbia:
Living History: None
Tours: Self-guided tours.
Museum: Yes - Shop: No
Restoration Projects: None
Events at the Site: None
Overall Condition of Site: Excellent, 90% of all buildings remain on the site.
Condition of individual Elements: Good
Other Elements:
Protective Status of Site: The site is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a State or local historic landmark.
Support Group: Friends of the Columbia River Gateway
Contact Person: David Carnahan - President
Mailing Address: P. O. Box K Ilwaco, WA 9888624
Phone:
Website: www.fotcrg.org
Fax:
Special Situations at the Site: None
Significant Elements at Fort Columbia: Battery Ord had unusual detached 3rd emplacement which is currently buried. 2 6-inch guns and carriages currently emplaced in Bty. 246. Museum housed in two-story 1900's Barracks.
Projects that would benefit from CDSG funding: None
Current Site Owner(s): The site is currently operated by the State of Washington State Parks
Current Site Supervisor: Larry Chapman, Manager
Mailing Address: Fort Canby State Park, P. O. Box 488, Ilwaco,
WA 988624
Telephone: (360) 642-3078 - Main Office
Fax: (360) 642-4216
Email: info@fortcanby.org
Web Site: http://www.freewebz.com/fotc/Canby/ft-canby.html
Hours of Operation: Open Seven Days a week - Dawn to Dusk
Programs offered at Fort Canby:
Living History: None
Tours: Self-guided tours.
Museum Shop: Yes
Restoration Projects: None
Events at the Site: None
Overall Condition of Site: Good, lacking most buildings
Condition of individual Elements: Good, but two of the four batteries are on Coast Guard property and are not open to the public.
Other Elements:
Protective Status of Site: The site is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a State or local historic landmark.
Support Group: Friends of the Columbia River Gateway
Contact Person: David Carnahan - President
Mailing Address: P. O. Box K Ilwaco, WA 98624
Phone:
Fax:
Website: www.fotcrg.org
Other Contacts at the Site: None
Special Situations at the Site: Rear of Bty. Allen in danger of collapse due to parking lot construction.
Significant Elements at Fort Canby: Mortar Battery Gunther in the Coast Guard area - four 12-inch M1896 mortars, last modern mortar battery constructed in US.