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The Columbia River Highway was built in Oregon along the Columbia River between 1913 and 1922 . When the Multnomah County portion was first paved in 1916, it was the first major paved Highway in the Pacific Northwest . Once completed, it ran from Astoria to The Dalles , a total of 196 miles. It was one of the routes in the National Auto Trail system and is an All-American Road . Officially the Columbia River Highway (Highway 2) runs along Interstate 84 from Portland to east of Boardman , and then northeast on U.S. Route 730 to the Washington state line. The '''Lower Columbia River Highway''' ('''Highway 2W''', sometimes '''Highway 92''') runs along U.S. Route 30 from Astoria to Portland. The '''Historic Columbia River Highway''' ('''Highway 100''') runs largely along former alignments, from Troutdale to The Dalles . The original highway was promoted by lawyer and entrepreneur, Sam Hill , and engineer, Samuel Lancaster , to be modeled after the great scenic roads of Europe . From the very beginning, the roadway was envisioned not just as means of traveling by the then popular Model T , but designed with an elegance that took full advantage of all the natural beauty along the route. When the United States Highway system was officially established in 1926 , the highway became the first and then westernmost segment of what became U.S. Highway 30 . PRESENT-DAY 'HISTORIC COLUMBIA RIVER HIGHWAY' and Crown Point , seen from a lookout along the Historic Columbia River Highway.]] Modern highways, including I-84 , and other developments have resulted in the abandonment of major sections of the historic original highway. In the interest of Tourism and historical preservation, seventy-four miles of the original road—from Troutdale to The Dalles—have been established as the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH). Forty miles of the route are open to motor vehicles:
The remaining portions of the HCRH designated for non-motorized use are now known as the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail. These are being developed as money becomes available. The Columbia River Highway is the nation's oldest scenic highway. In 1984 it was recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society Of Civil Engineers . SOURCES
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