SheSue Experience

Estacada is a small town of around 2700 located 30 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon. The city was founded in May 1905 as a camp for workers building a hydroelectric dam on the nearby Clackamas River in order to supply Portland with electricity. At the time, the river was relatively inaccessible by road, forcing the Oregon Power Railway Company to build a railway to the vicinity of the river to transport crews to the river for the construction of the dam. After the construction of the Hotel Estacada, the town became a weekend destination on the railroad line for residents of Portland. During the week, the train carried freight and work crews to and from Portland. In the early 20th century, a trolley line connected the town with downtown Portland. The early railroad history of the city is commemorated in a mural in downtown near the town hall. The railway line has been removed; there is no longer rail service to Estacada.

After the building of the dams, the primary economy has been lumber. As this has fallen on hard times, the town has been depressed in recent years. Estacada has become more of a bedroom community with residents commuting to outside jobs. Despite these problems, the scenic beauty of the area continues to be a weekend draw for residents of Portland.

Estacada is a Spanish word and it means staked out or marked with stakes. It was first suggested by George Kelly as a name for the town site at a meeting of the Oregon Water Power Townsite Company directors on December 27, 1903. Kelly had selected the name at random from a U.S. Map which showed Llano Estacado, in Texas.

The Clackamas River runs alongside the city of Estacada providing outdoorsmen a plethora of activities. Fishing, rafting, canoing, camping, hiking and backpacking opportunities bring people from miles around. They call themselves the ‘Gateway to the Clackamas River’.

Through the years, the residents have tried to establish the city as an art community. The Spiral Gallery offers First Fridays. Every “1st Friday” of the month, the gallery showcases its new Featured Artist or Featured Group Show by inviting the community to come enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvre, music and lots of wonderful art.

It is the art community that has encouraged the murals of Estacada you see here. On a recent outing, I walked around town to capture the various murals. They are painted on various businesses about town. I hope you enjoy them here and if you can, it’s worth the visit to this small, but picturesque town.