1917 Map of Priest Rapids

About this map

The Columbia River cuts a deep path through south-central Washington, its waters rushing past the namesake Priest Rapids and toward China Bar. This 1913-1914 survey captures a landscape defined by its rugged topography and early infrastructure, including a Power Plant along the river's edge. The northern half of the map is dominated by the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul railroad line, while the Hanford Branch serves the southern riverbank. Away from the water, the terrain rises sharply into the Rattlesnake Hills and the expansive Black Rock Valley. This area represents a sparsely populated ranching and rail territory, where isolated settlements like Wautoma and the Figure 2 Ranch stand as lonely markers in the dry coulees. Geologists and local historians can trace the intricate network of canyons, such as Sourdough Canyon and Cow Canyon, that drain into the Columbia's main stem.