Willamette Falls was created when the
Willamette River at
Oregon City spills about 40 feet over a basaltic ridge. The locks project was built by the Peopls Transportation Company in the early 1870's to move river traffic around the falls. The state of Oregon raised $200,000 to help pay for the project.
The lock chambers are made from locally quarried stones ranging from 5 feet to 15 feet high. The lock walls have remained watertight for more than 120 years. Willamette Falls Locks were opened in 1873. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers purchased the locks in 1915. In 1974, the project was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You are welcome to visit the locks on the west bank of the river at West Linn. While there, you can watch vessels moving up and down the river. The Historical Information Center is open daily for information. The center is in the original lock master's offices.