The Dalles Civic Auditorium is a historic building on the National Register of Historic Places. It was an important center of cultural and recreational activity for its community and region, and after more than a decade of dereliction and disuse, has been partially restored with plans in place for complete rehabilitation. The facility is becoming, once again, the site of public and private events.

Dalles Civic Auditorium

This short walk through the Dalles begins at the city's Civic Auditorium and concludes with the original Wasco County Courthouse and Bennett-Williams House. The tour includes numerous historic buildings as well as a museum and art center located within the former Carnegie Library. 

Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the steel industry, offered a $10,000 grant for the project in 1907. The start of construction was delayed for two years, however, as it took time for the city to choose a site and commit to pledging money towards the library. When it opened in 1910, it became the first purpose-built library building in The Dalles. It operated until 1966 when library functions moved to its current location. It was at this point that the library became The Dalles Art Association which, presumably, later changed its name to The Dalles Art Center. In 1977 gallery space was added where the circulation desk, book stacks, and reading tables were located. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Located in the historic Dalles Carnegie Library, the Dalles Art Center is dedicated to promoting the arts to the community. To this end, it offers a variety of classes, exhibits, and other programming. It also hosts an annual art auction. The building was constructed in 1910 and was named after philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated funds to thousands of communities to help them build libraries. The former library is a fine example of Beaux-Arts architecture and is also significant for helping spur the construction of other civic buildings in the immediate area, including the Wasco County Courthouse. 

The Dalles Art Center

The Elks Lodge was established in 1895 in the town of Cascade Locks and relocated to The Dalles the next year. It is not known why they made the move or where they first met, but the Elks bought the property on which the building now stands in 1908. Two houses and a meat market that were already there were torn down to make way for the new structure. When completed, the lodge boasted a basement pool and showers, a smoking room, reading room, billiard room, kitchen, ballroom, and bedrooms on the third floor. In 1922, the lodge had 1,000 members.The owner of the museum, David Benko, acquired the old building in 2015. Coming from a family of collectors, Benko started collecting comic books when he was 8 and then glass insulators when he was 10. He got his first neon sign in college and learned how to make and repair them in the late 1980s. In 1994 he opened up a neon sign shop (with an attached mock gas station, diner, and dairy) in Camas, Washington. After trying for around a decade to open a museum in Vancouver, Washington, Benko learned of the Elks Lodge building in 2015. It took him the next couple of years to renovate and convert the building into a museum. The old building is a contributing property of The Dalles Commercial Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

The National Neon Sign Museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of neon signs. The collection reflects American history through the evolution of signs and advertising. Highlights include the animated and figural ‘Dog n’ Suds’ sign, Howard Johnson’s ‘Simple Simon’ sign, and rare West Coast petroleum signs. The museum opened in 2018 and is housed in the historic former Elks Lodge building, which was erected in 1910. The Elks, which is a fraternal organization officially called the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, occupied the building for several decades at least through the 1980s. The building is also significant for its Colonial architecture. Notable features include large Ionic columns supporting a pediment and balcony, and four pilasters (columns) with Ionic capitals on each corner. The building is also known for its unique spring-loaded hardwood floor in the ballroom. 

National Neon Sign Museum

Architect William Cutts designed the theater (he designed a total of around 60 theaters for the Universal Film Corporation). The Granada was built during the peak of the silent film period but it included new sound technologies called the Vitaphone and Movietone, which enabled it to show new "talkie" films. Interestingly, the building plans originally had a room where mothers could watch movies with their babies and not bother other patrons. The Granada was restored between 1993-1996 and operated for a few years, showing movies and hosting live performances. However, it was closed during the 2000s. The city bought it in 2010 but it appears that plans to renovate it fell through. The current owners bought the Granada in 2017 and proceeded to restore the old theater. Today it shows classic movies and hosts live performances.

The Granada Theater has entertained visitors in The Dalles since it was built in 1930. It was the first movie theater west of the Mississippi River to show "talkies" and its distinctive Moorish Revival architecture makes it one of most recognizable landmarks in the city. Notable features include domed towers, an arcaded parapet, horseshoe-arched windows with twisted spiral columns, and a marquee that wraps around the southeast corner. It is a contributing property of the The Dalles Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Granada Theater

By the time the courthouse was built, The Dalles had long been a well-established economic center, growing from a Methodist mission in 1838 to its founding as a city in 1851. Plans for the courthouse's construction began in 1910 when Congressman William R. Ellis proposed the idea for the project. It took a few years before construction finally began in March, 1915. The work was completed in July 1916. It appears that post office functions operated in the building at least through the late 1990s. The building is also a contributing property of The Dalles Commercial Historic District, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The former United States Post Office in downtown The Dalles is a striking example of Greek Revival architecture. It was built in 1916, becoming the first building the federal government erected in the city. While no longer functioning as a post office, it remains an important landmark as it represents the role the federal government has played in The Dalles. In terms of architecture, the building features a symmetrical design, sandstone facade, and a grand colonnade with large Corinthian columns, among other decorative elements. Today the building is home to a private company.

United States Post Office

The old courthouse is far larger than the original one, which reflects the growth and prosperity The Dalles had achieved by the early 1880s. A Methodist mission was founded here in 1838 and then the U.S. Army established Camp Drum and then Fort Dalles in the early 1850s. The city was then established in 1857. In the coming years the city grew and became an important economic hub along the Columbia River. By the early 1880s it was clear that the first courthouse was too small to handle the needs of the city. The second courthouse was built as a result. The jail and county offices were on the first floor and the courtroom was on the second floor. Courthouse functions moved to the third and current courthouse building in 1914. Two fraternal organizations and a funeral parlor then occupied the second courthouse. The first organization was the Knights of Pythias, which bought the building in 1914. The second was the Wasco Masonic Lodge, which acquired it in 1929. The funeral home opened in the old building sometime before the masons moved in. The masons and funeral home continued to occupy the building at least through the late 1990s. It is a contributing property of the The Dalles Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This attractive building, which is now home to a pub, was Wasco County's second courthouse. It was built in 1883 and replaced the first courthouse, which was built in 1859 and is now a museum. The building is a fine example of Italianate architecture and resembles an Italian villa. The red brick building is two stories tall and has arched windows, a low-hipped roof, and its most prominent feature, the octagonal clock tower. The tower features an elongated domed metal roof, windows, and clocks on all four sides. 

Second Wasco County Courthouse

The first Catholic church built in the city—a log structure—was erected in 1848. It served as both the church and the residence of the priest. Unfortunately a fire destroyed the church in 1855. The next one was built shortly thereafter but it was located a little far from the town. As the congregation grew, a new, large church was needed. As a result, the third church—a larger wood frame structure—was built in 1861 and it was located where the current church is now.By 1890 it was apparent that the third church was no longer sufficient and the congregation made plans to erect the present building. However, these plans were delayed for a number of years. A fire destroyed all of The Dalles in 1881 and three years later a flood in 1894 damaged much of the community. As a result of these factors, construction didn't get underway in 1897.The congregation moved to a new church in the suburbs in 1968. The old church was slated for demolition but local residents led an effort to prevent that from happening. An organization called Old St. Peter's Landmark Preservation, Inc. was established and bought the former church for $25,000. It continues to operate the building today.

Built in 1898, the former St. Peter's Catholic Church has remained an enduring landmark in The Dalles. Now known as Old St. Peter's Landmark, the former church is a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture. Its most prominent features is the steeple, which rises to height of 176 feet and is topped by cross and rooster weathervane. Other notable features include the red-brick exterior, stained glass arched windows, buttresses, and a statue of St. Peter in a niche above the main entrance. The old church has operated as Old St. Peter's landmark since 1971. It hosts weddings, concerts, and other events. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Old St. Peter's Landmark

Wasco County was established in 1854 and was originally much larger than it is now. The Dalles grew from a military outpost and important stop for settlers traveling west to an established community. Another factor contributing to the town's grow was that gold was found in eastern Oregon and in Idaho in the years following statehood. Given these factors, The Dalles was the clear choice to become the county seat. The original courthouse was located at the corner of Court and Third Streets and served as the courthouse until 1882. By then it was clear that the county needed a larger building to handle the increased size of the population. As a result, the second courthouse was built in 1883. The third and current courthouse was built in 1914. The original courthouse continued to serve the community as city hall from 1883 to 1910 and was relocated across the street. It was moved again in 1910 and expanded to become a boarding house and remained as such until 1961. Fortunately, the The Dalles-Wasco County Museum Commission saved it from demolition and moved it to yet another location that year. It remained there until 1976 and was moved to Second Street next to the Chamber of Commerce and restored. The old courthouse was moved to this location in 1996 by the Original Wasco County Courthouse Preservation Corporation.

Although it might not look like much today, this small building was Wasco County's first courthouse. It was constructed by a local builder in April 1859, just two months after Oregon was granted statehood. Designed with elements of the Federal style, it is a good example of vernacular architecture and has been well preserved. The courtroom was located on the second floor while the Clerk's Office, Sheriff's Office, and three jail cells were on the first floor. Over the years, the building has operated as city hall, a private house, and a boarding house. It is now a museum operated by the Original Wasco County Courthouse Preservation Corporation. Several items are on display inside including leg irons, handcuffs, ball and chains, and a pair of "iron boots." It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Original Wasco County Courthouse

Alfred Bennet (1854-1926)Alfred Bennet was born on June 10, 1854 in Iowa. His family moved to Oregon in 1865 when he was 11. At some point after that, he began working on farms in Wasco County until he was 19. He studied to become a teacher and eventually became superintendent of the Wasco County Schools in 1878. During these years he taught himself law and passed the bar exam in 1880. In 1882 Bennet was elected to the state legislature but in fact turned down that position to become Circuit Court Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit. He stayed in that position for many years then returned to private practice. In 1887, he married his wife, Mary, with whom he would have a son and three daughters. In the early 1900s he ran unsuccessfully for Congress but served as a delegate to the 1904 and 1912 Democratic national conventions. However, as mentioned above, Bennet became an Oregon Supreme Court Justice in 1919. Unfortunately, he only served until October 1920 because of health reasons. He continued to practice law until he died in 1926.Edward Williams (1865-19)Edward Williams born here in the Dalles in 1865. He was the second of 10 children. His father, Griffith, opened a general store with a partner in 1866 (it became a clothing store in 1891 and grew to six outlets by the late 1920s). It appears that Williams, when he was 23, was appointed manager of the store by his mother after Griffith passed away that year. Williams also assumed his father's place on the board of directors. He later became president in 1918 and served until he died in 1928. Williams co-founded another business—a retail and wholesale company—in 1901, which sold farm machinery and distributed automobiles. His success enabled him to purchase the house in 1926. The Williams family owned the house for several decades, at least until the 1980s.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Bennett–Williams House is the finest example of Queen Anne architecture in The Dalles. It is named after the two families first to occupy the house. Prominent judge Alfred S. Bennet built the house in 1899; he would later serve as an Oregon Supreme Court Justice from 1919-1920. The next owners Edward and Elizabeth Williams bought the house in 1926. Edward was a prosperous local businessman. The house features vertical and horizontal siding, fish scale and patterned shingles, ornate woodwork, gable and hipped roofs, a large first-floor porch with a cone-roofed pavilion, a small second-story porch above the main entrance, and turret on the northeast corner with another second-story porch. The house appears to be a private residence as of 2020 but in recent times it operated as a bed and breakfast inn. 

The Dalles Oregon Walking Tour

Dalles Civic Auditorium

Introduction

Images