The Columbia Gorge Hotel is a historic hotel in Hood River, Oregon, United States. It was built by Simon Benson, who was involved with the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway construction project. Benson envisioned a hotel at the end of the highway, and completed the Mission style hotel in 1920. The new hotel was built on the site of the previous Wah Gwin Gwin Hotel, built in 1904.
The photographer Arthur M. Prentiss was an American photographer born c. 1865 and died c. 1940. Some of his photos are part of the Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Collection held in the Library Of Congress and most of his work was developed in Oregon. Prentiss worked in the principal photography studios of Oregon between 1913-1922. In 1913, Prentiss joined the Weister Company. In 1917, he joined Benjamin A. Gifford, the most famous photographer of Oregon at that time, creating Gifford-Prentiss Inc. The Gifford and Prentiss Studio was located on SW Washington between Twelfth and Thirteenth Street in Portland and lasted until Gifford retired in 1920. In 1922 Prentiss acquired Weister's Studio and negatives. Arthur M. Prentiss principal studio, as a single professional photographer, was in 45 Fourth Street in Portland Oregon. Prentiss is known for producing views of the Construction of Highways in Oregon including the Columbia River Highway and John Day Highway. Prentiss also documented the life and works of people of Oregon.
A collection of photographs and papers relating to the Columbia Gorge Hotel located in Hood River, Oregon. The photographs from this collection are bound in a single volume labeled from the photographer, Arthur M. Prentiss of Portland, Oregon. The photographs in this collection depict the Columbia Gorge Hotel from various viewpoints from the outside, including its gardens, stone pathways, and adjacent waterfall. Additionally there are several photographs of the interior of the hotel including the reception, lounge, dinning, kitchen, and guest room areas. Finally there are two photographs depicting the Hotels basement areas including its generator and plumbing systems. Most photographs include a photographer’s negative number superimposed onto the bottom left or right corners.
In addition to the bound set of photographs this collection includes a non dated original Columbia Gorge Hotel pamphlet which includes photographs taken from this collection, as well as a copy of the Travelers Bulletin, dated November 1923 which includes a cover photograph taken from this collection in addition to a review and description of the hotel and its accommodations. Also included in this collection is a typed seven page financial manuscript of the Columbia Gorge Hotels expenses from May 1st 1923 – October 31st 1923.
This collection is arranged in a single box.
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.
The Arthur M. Prentiss Collection (OLPb050PRE), Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.
Purchased by Lewis & Clark College in 2011.
Processed in 2011.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
From the Portland, Oregon studio of Arthur M. Prentiss, c. 1922, one bound 11 ½” X 8 ½” photograph portfolio containing 23 sepia toned photographs measuring 9 ½” X 7 ½” each.
Non-dated, c.1923 printing of a four-page bi-fold pamphlet for the Columbia Gorge Hotel. Pamphlet contains a description and history of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, amenities offered by the hotel including tennis courts, and croquet grounds, as well as the planned construction of golf links. Descriptions of the lobby, lounges, dining areas and rooms are accompanied with photos taken from this collection.
In addition to information on the Columbia Gorge Hotel the pamphlet contains a single page “Scenes along the Columbia River Highway”, a photo montage and description of the area’s natural and manmade tourist attractions accompanied by photographs by Prentiss and Gifford.
Official monthly publication of the Travelers Benefit Association and the Oregon and Washington division the Travelers Protective Association. Editor and Publisher, Clyde Evans.
The Travelers Bulletin contains a front page photograph of the Columbia Gorge Hotel with text descriptions taken from the Columbia Gorge Hotel Pamphlet and subsequent Prentiss photographs. Also included in the Travelers Bulletin is a review of the Columbia Gorge Hotel detailing both the description and privileges of the hotel as a quality hotel located among the beautiful scenery of the Columbia River banks.
Dated October 31st 1923. A seven page typed manuscript prepared by R. H. Thomas of Portland, Oregon detailing the Columbia Gorge Hotel’s assets and liabilities for six months beginning on May 1st 1923. Included are detailed accounts of all revenue and expenses for the hotel including but not limited to revenue generated from the hotel’s restaurant, and cigar stand.