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1. The Midnight Saloon Heist in Ilwaco

   When a business dispute turned into a border-crossing caper, one saloonkeeper decided to settle the ownership question by boat in the dead of night.

   Oct 31, 1903The Evening StatesmanIlwaco, Pacific CountyFollow the Money · Scandal

2. The Bold Bid for a New Pacific Emporium

   Speculators and city-builders are betting millions on a new town at the mouth of the Columbia River, hoping to eclipse Portland and Victoria as the premier trading hub of the North.

   Mar 14, 1863Washington StandardIlwaco, Pacific CountyBoom & Bust

3. Ilwaco Cannerymen Fight the Introduction of Catfish

   Local industry experts warn that catfish will destroy the salmon population in Washington waters.

   Feb 3, 1891The Seattle Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific CountyFollow the Money

4. The Tragic Final Voyage of the Schooner Frank W. Howe

   A lumber-laden schooner breaks apart near Ilwaco after a week of suffering at sea, claiming two lives.

   Feb 23, 1904The Tacoma TimesIlwaco, Pacific CountyWork & Pay · Disasters

5. Tragedy at the Mouth of the Columbia

   A broken hawser on a tow line claimed the lives of three sailors in a sudden, violent accident off the bar of the Columbia River.

   Feb 16, 1887Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific CountyWork & Pay · Disasters

6. Tragedy in Ilwaco: A Hunting Accident

   A 12-year-old boy accidentally kills his younger brother while showing off a gun after a day of hunting.

   Jun 14, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific County

7. The Great Columbia Salmon Run Was Dying — and Oregon and Washington Couldn't Agree Who Should Save It

   In 1894 a Portland memorial to Congress warned that the Chinook were vanishing: a $31.5 million trade, thousands of jobs, and a two-state turf war over who got to regulate the river.

   Jul 14, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific CountyFollow the Money

8. The Next Governor Hits the Campaign Trail

   Republican gubernatorial candidate John H. McGraw receives a hero’s welcome in the coastal town of Ilwaco during a rain-swept campaign tour.

   Oct 12, 1892The Seattle Post-IntelligencerCape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Pacific CountyCity Hall

9. Calling for More Lifesavers on the Pacific Coast

   After several shipwrecks at the Columbia River bar, a report argues that the Twelfth District is dangerously under-equipped and neglected by Congress.

   Oct 20, 1883Seattle Daily Post-IntelligencerCape Disappointment, Ilwaco, Pacific CountyDisasters

10. The Gold Rush on the Pacific Beaches

    A Tacoma syndicate aims to extract gold and platinum from the sands of Beard's Hollow near Ilwaco.

    Jan 15, 1893The Seattle Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific CountyBoom & Bust · Snake Oil

11. The Forgotten Navigator of the Pacific Northwest

    A call to honor Captain Robert Gray, the man whose discovery of the Columbia River and Grays Harbor secured the region for the United States.

    Mar 2, 1861Washington StandardIlwaco, Pacific County

12. The Salmon Came Late: Freshets Held the Columbia Run at the River's Mouth Until It Was Nearly Too Late

    Ilwaco packer B. A. Seaborg says the fish only began running two weeks ago — and the August 10 close season will shut the nets on thousands of them.

    Aug 6, 1894The Seattle Post-IntelligencerIlwaco, Pacific CountyWork & Pay

13. A Cougar Attacks in the Salmon Hatchery

    A hungry cougar terrorizes a local salmon hatchery, leading to a desperate defensive battle involving dogs and a rifle.

    Oct 23, 1903The Evening StatesmanIlwaco, Pacific CountyStrange But True

14. From Ilwaco to the Russo-Japanese War

    A local physician departs for the front to serve as a surgeon for the Russian government.

    Apr 18, 1904The Tacoma TimesIlwaco, Pacific County

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