PLSO March April 2017

Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon

Located just south of Trestle Bay, can you name this shipwreck which is one of the most photographed

wrecks on the Oregon coast? It is located in a prized Oregon state park named for a “Lost Surveyor”

By Pat Gaylord, PLS

Lost Survey

The

Authors note

– In future issues I will be attempting to seek out Oregon landmarks and locations that have been touched by, named for or otherwise influenced

by “Lost Surveyors” in Oregon’s history. If you know of a locale you would like to see featured, please pass along the information.

The Peter Iredale ran aground in October of 1906

after missing the mouth of the Columbia River. As

one of the most accessible shipwrecks in the Pacific

it is a popular tourist attraction on the northern

Oregon Coast. The wreck is located in what is now

Fort Stevens State Park. This 3,700 acre expansive

state park offers Columbia River and Pacific Ocean

beach access, camping, fishing, hiking, miles of

biking trails and much more. In addition to the

Peter Iredale the park features World War II instal-

lations which are open to exploration and fun

for the family. Fort Stevens was an active military

installation from 1863 until its closure in 1947. The

fort was shelled by a Japanese submarine during

World War II, but it suffered no damage during the

attack. This attack makes it the only military instal-

lation in the continental United States to come

under enemy fire since the War of 1812. Ironically,

this Oregon State Park is named for the first

Governor of the Washington Territory, Isaac Ingalls

Stevens, who served from 1853–1857.

A governor, Congressman, and Brigadier General

in the Union Army, he is also this issues “Lost

Surveyor.” Although limited in duration, his

continues on page 20 >