OTE - Oregon Travel Experience

In 1943, the African-American 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was formed. The “Triple Nickles”-as they spelled it-were the first black paratroopers in the segregated US Army during World War II. In 1944-1945, Japan launched incendiary balloon bombs across the Pacific to set US west coast forests ablaze and cause civilian panic. In May 1945, the military ordered the 555th on a classified mission, “Operation Firefly,” to counter this threat, and 300 …

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Formed in 1943, the all-Black 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was the first opportunity for African American officers and enlisted men to become paratroopers in the segregated US Army during World War II. Balloon Bomb Blazes: In 1944-45, Japan launched balloon bombs eastward across the Pacific to set US west coast forests ablaze and cause civilian panic. In May 1945, the military ordered the “Triple Nickles” on a classified mission, code …

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Welcome to the Oregon Coast The rugged shore of the Central and Northern Oregon Coast is backed by the Coast Range Mountain, remnants of a chain of volcanic islands that collided with the North American continent some 50 million years ago. The Oregon Coast is notable for its basalt headlands, such as Cape Foulweather and Cape Perpetua, and for a succession of bays, estuaries, and river mouths. Volcanic cliffs alternate …

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Oregon’s Historic Tillamook Forest Fire of 1933 spread over 240,000 acres of forest land, fires in 1939 and 1945 brought the total to 355,000 acres. Over 13 billion board feet of timber were killed. Devastation by these disastrous fires aroused Oregon voters to approve a bond issue for reforestation and protection of the burned area. Access roads were built and hazardous snags have been felled to improve forest protection. Many …

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Trees on 240,000 acres were killed in 1933 in one of the Nation’s worst forest fires which started four miles northeast of this point. Later fires extended the burn to 355,000 acres-to more than 13 billion board feet of timber. This area is now being reforested with Douglas Fir, spruce, cedar and hemlock. With effective protection a new forest will in a few decades be ready to harvest on “The …

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Dwight Huss, an automobile engineer from Detroit, made automotive history here June 20, 1905 when his car, “Old Scout,” became the first documented car to cross the Cascade Mountains from east to west. Huss was competing in America’s First Transcontinental Automobile Race against Percy McGargle, which departed New York City on May 8, 1905 in separate 7-Horsepower, 1904 Oldsmobile Curved-Dash Runabouts. “Old Scout” was also the fastest automobile to travel …

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The John Day River (called Walla Walla- little river) area was the original homeland to several tribal villages. Tákspas was the principal village of the lower John Day River, whose people, the Tákspaslama, became enrolled in the Warm Springs and Umatilla tribes. The tribes settled this area due to the wealth of water, salmon, eels, plant foods, and game.

A Rush of Newcomers: The discovery of gold at Canyon Creek in …

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Weary Oregon Trail emigrants, eager to ease travel or gain mileage, often attempted cutoffs and shortcuts. While many of these alternate routes proved successful, others did not–they became roads to ruin for some and the end of the trail for others.

In 1853, Elijah Elliott, a Willamette Valley settler, convinced over 1,000 people to attempt a shortcut over the Cascade Range. Following Meek’s route to Harney Valley, Elliott’s party diverged around …

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The Oregon Coast boasts forested headlands, towering dunes of sand, and sparkling lakes and rivers. From the Columbia River south to Bandon, the picturesque coastline is bordered to the east by the peaks of the Coast Range Mountains. These peaks are the remnants of a chain of volcanic islands that collided with the North American continent some 50 million years ago. The rugged southernmost section of the coast is quite …

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Aircraft proved their military worth during World War I — initially for observation purposes, and later for the support of ground troops and bombing. When the United States entered the war in 1917, air supremacy was hotly contested and airplane production was vital to the war effort.

Early airplanes were constructed of linen stretched over a wood framework. Because of its light weight, flexibility and strength, Sitka spruce was the wood …

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