ORGenWeb - Important Dates in History

Important Dates Relating to Oregon History

1513: -- Balboa discovered Pacific Ocean
1520: -- Magellan sails through the straits
1539: -- Ulloa's voyage to 28 degrees north
1542: -- Cabrillo followed California coast line
1579: -- Sir Francis Drake names New Albion (California)
1602/3: -- Viscaino's voyage; d'Aguillar reports a river near where Columbia was afterward discovered.
1728: -- Bering discovered straits between the continents
1741: -- Bering and Cherikoff sailed along Alaskan coast
1765: -- First know use of name Oregon or Ouragon, by Maj. Robert Rogers
1774: -- Perez reaches 54 degree 40' orth and discovers Nootka Sound.
1775: -- Heceta's voyage, passed Columbia River
1778: -- Capt. Cook's visit, begins fur trade on coast.
1778: -- Carver's Travels published, with maps, using the name Oregon.
1787: -- Barkley discovers Strait of Juan de Fuca
1789-90: -- Nootka Sound controversy begins
1792-4: -- Vancouver maps the northwest coast
1792: -- Capt. Robert Gray discovers Columbia River.
1793: -- Mackenzie first to reach the Pacific overland.
1803: -- Louisiana purchased from France
1804-6: -- Lewis and Clark expedition overland to the mouth of Columbia River
1810: -- Winship brothers attempt settlement on Columbia
1811: -- astor fort established near mouth of Columbia
1811: -- Tonquin disaster, Fort Okanogan founded
1813: -- Astoria becomes Fort George under British flag
1814: -- Treaty of Ghen closing war with Great Britain
1818: -- Astoria returned to US. Old Fort Walla Walla founded by North West Company
1818: -- First Joint-Occupany Treaty with Great Britain
1819: -- Treaty with Spain fixing northern boundary of California at 42 degree north
1824: -- American treaty with Russia limiting latter's southern boundary at 54 degree 40' north
1825: -- Fort Vancouver, on Columbia River, founded by Hudson's Bay Company
1827: -- Second Joint-Occupany Treaty with Great Britain
1828: -- Jedediah S. Smith enters Oregon from California
1829: -- Location at Willamette Falls (Oregon City) by the Company
1830: -- First wagons in Rocky Mountains at head of Wind River.
1832: -- Capt. Wyeth reaches Vancouver overland
1833: -- Fort Nisqually established on Puget Sound
1834: -- Fort Hall established in southern Idaho
1834: -- Methodist Mission in Willamette Valley established under Jason Lee
1837: -- Whitman and Spalding Missions established
1841: -- Pioneer settlers cross plains to Oregon; first steps toward local government
1842: -- Whitman hurries east to save his Mission
1843: -- Great immigration; first wagons westward from Fort Hall
1843: -- Provisional Government begun, May 2nd
1844: -- First house erected in Portland
1845: -- Reorganized Provisional Government
1846: -- Treaty with Great Britain established Oregon title and defines northern boundary at 49 degree north... (concluded June 15, proclaimed by President Aug 5, 1846)
1847: -- Whitman massacre; Cayuse war
1848: -- California gold discovery
1849: -- Oregon Territory established (Aug 14, 1848). Began government March 3, 1849
1850: -- steamship mail service from San Francisco to Columbia River established
1851: -- Portland is incorporated
1853: -- Washington Territory established; Pacific railroad surveys authorized
1853-1859: -- Indian wars
1857: -- Constitutional convention at Salem, August and September. (Ratified by popular vote on 2nd Monday of Nov)
1859: -- Oregon admitted as state (14 Feb 1859). Propositions of Congress accepted by the State 3 June 1859.
1863: -- Idaho Territory established
1864: -- Montana Territory established. Through telegraphy line between Portland and California points established
1868: -- Railroad building Oregon to California begun. First cargo of wheat shipped to foreign parts.
1869: -- Union and Central Pacific Railroads connected, May 10 (Promontory Point, Utah)
1872: -- Modoc Indian War.
1873: -- Great fire at Portland
1877: -- Nez Perce Indian War
1878: -- Bannock Indian War
1883: -- North Pacific last spike celebration Sept 8; Oregon Railway and Navigation line connected at Ainsworth. Completed to Huntington, 1884)
1884: -- Railroad south from Portland reaches Ashland, May 5, (Completed Dec 7, 1887)
1898: -- Oregon troops in first military expedition to the Philippines
1905: -- Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition at Portland
1907: -- Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway constructed
1913: -- South Jetty at mouth of Columbia River completed.
1917: -- North Jetty completed; forty-two feet at mean low water at the mouth of Columbia River
1917: -- Mobilization of Oregon Guard, March 25; war declared April 6th
1918: -- Armistice signed, November 11th.

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Information donated to ORGenWeb by W. David Samuelsen.

Last updated Monday, 03-Nov-2003 13:54:52 MST.