Travel

Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River

Cruising the Columbia River on the Cruise West Spirit of Discovery

The Bonneville Lock and Dam, which was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1933-1937, is the first in a series of locks and dams on the Columbia River. When first built, the region did not need all the electricity generated at the power plant. All that changed with World War II, and Bonneville played a key role in the production of wartime military equipment. A second powerhouse was added in the late 1970's.

The Bonneville lock was the first lock for the Cruise West Spirit of Discovery on its upstream voyage through the Columbia River Gorge, and the last lock on its downstream voyage to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria.

The small ship docked at the Visitor's Center, and we watched the migrating fish move past the underwater viewing windows and learned much about the Bonneville complex from its exhibits and the rangers. Our group also toured the outside areas and the powerhouse, where we saw the "fish-friendly" turbine. After the interesting tour, we went to Multnomah Falls.

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Entering the Bonneville Lock at Dawn on the Spirit of Discovery	Exiting the Bonneville Lock	Cruise West Spirit of Discovery at the Dock at the Bonneville Lock and Dam	Cascade Mountains Overlooking the Bonneville Lock and Dam
Power Generators at the Bonneville Powerhouse on the Columbia River	Fish Ladder at the Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River	Fish Viewing Window at the Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River	Fish Ladder at the Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River
Bonneville Power Plant on the Columbia River	Bonneville Dam Spillway on the Columbia River	Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River	Power Lines at the Bonneville Lock and Dam on the Columbia River