Then & Now

Our story

From Ice Age floods to summer fun

1. 15,000+ years ago

   Shaped by the Ice Age floods

   Huge Ice Age floods carved the basalt cliffs and the sharp bend in the Columbia River that formed the Crescent Bar peninsula.

2. Thousands of years

   Home to the Wanapum and Plateau peoples

   The Wanapum and other Columbia Plateau tribes fished, traded and lived along this stretch of the river long before settlers arrived.

3. Late 1800s – early 1900s

   Homesteads and ranching

   Settlers started small homesteads and raised livestock along the river, even though the rocky ground made watering crops hard.

4. 1938

   Grant PUD is formed

   Grant County voters created their Public Utility District, which later built Priest Rapids Dam (1959) and Wanapum Dam (1963).

5. 1963

   Wanapum Dam fills the reservoir

   Before the dam, the bar was a long sandy crescent under the cliffs. When the reservoir filled, much of it became an island ringed by water.

6. 1960s – 1970s

   A place to play

   Steady water levels were perfect for boating and skiing, and the campground, RV sites and golf course were developed.

7. 1970s – 2000s

   A favorite summer getaway

   Condos, vacation rentals and small businesses grew up around the boaters, campers and golfers who came back every year.

8. Today

   Open to everyone

   Grant PUD cares for the land under its federal license, with a campground, boat launches, beaches and parks for the public to enjoy.

Historical photos and history courtesy of Grant PUD. Read the full story on 509river.org