The Inaugural History Jamboree!
The Atlas project embodies a dedication to collaboration, aiming to integrate stakeholders’ voices in historical narratives and foster reflection on lost communities. Through the History Jamboree, participants can engage with unseen historical materials, offer their stories, and learn more about the project. Collaboration is at the heart of the Atlas. Our goal is to offer…
Meet our Graduate Assistant, Rebecca Mills
Hello! My name is Rebecca Mills, and I am one of the graduate assistants for the Atlas of Drowned Towns team. I joined the Atlas in August 2023 and will remain on the team for the next two years. I am originally from Caldwell, Idaho, and received my B.A. in History from the University of…
The Great Depression in the Pacific Northwest– The Human Cost of Infrastructure Development
The Great Depression’s effect in the Pacific Northwest revealed the human cost of New Deal policies and the displacement they wrought. Although FDR’s attempt at stabilizing the economy did provide the much-needed relief for men and women across the nation, infrastructure projects like large dams resulted in the displacement of communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.…
Restorative Waters—Breitenbush Hot Springs
Nestled in the tall evergreens of the Cascade Mountains lies a group of geothermal springs that have attracted visitors for generations. Breitenbush Hot Springs are situated in a natural clearing along the Breitenbush River some twelve miles northeast of Detroit, Oregon. To this day, visitors continue to enjoy the curative powers of the mineral water…
Trees Aplenty- Logging in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest’s logging industry brought thousands to its dense forests. The environmental and social effects of logging were significant as ghost towns and stripped-down forests were left in the wake of loggers. The town of Detroit served as the home of many loggers in the Willamette Valley who, alongside the companies who employed them,…
Why Would We Want to Leave?
From the time Detroit was founded in the late nineteenth century to when it was inundated in 1953 by the construction of Detroit Dam, the town and surrounding area was a place that was lived in and loved by many people. From the original residents of the North Santiam Canyon (read about them here) to…
The Willamette Valley Project— Old Detroit’s Inundation on the eve of the Dam Building Boom
The Willamette Valley Project, and the towns it drowned, are currently at the center of the Atlas of Drowned Towns research focus. The town of Old Detroit, a small unincorporated community along the North Santiam River, was a victim of dam construction that many in the Willamette Valley were thrilled see built. The Willamette Valley…
Since Time Immemorial—The Kalapuyans and Molallans of the North Santiam Canyon
Since time immemorial, the North Santiam Canyon has been part of the territorial homelands of the Kalapuyans in the west near the Willamette Valley and the Molallans in the east near the Cascade Mountains. To better understand the history of Detroit, Oregon, we must know the stories of the people who first inhabited the land.…
Meet our Graduate Assistant, Jack Warner!
Hello! My name is Jack Warner, and I am one of the graduate research assistants apart of the Drowned Towns team. My time with the Atlas began shortly after my enrollment at Boise State in January 2023, and will continue for the foreseeable future. I am originally from San Diego, California and received my B.A…
Meet our Graduate Assistant, Rachel Klade!
Hello! My name is Rachel, and I am one of the graduate assistants for the Atlas of Drowned Towns. I joined the team in January 2023 while pursuing my M.A. in Public History at Boise State University. Although I recently graduated in May, I will continue to work with the Atlas team through the summer. …
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