Oregon blew up its most beautiful tunnel in 1966 — now it’s back from the dead

Mitchell Point Tunnel’s Swiss-Inspired Death and Resurrection

Mitchell Point Tunnel got its start from a Swiss trip in 1908. Two men, Sam Hill and Samuel Lancaster, saw windowed tunnels cut into mountains along Lake Lucerne.

Later, engineer John Elliott used this idea when a cliff blocked the Columbia River Highway path. No one wanted to build it at first.

Still, Elliott pushed on and by 1915, his tunnel with five windows cut through rock was done. Sadly, cars got bigger and roads changed.

The tunnel was filled in 1953, then fully torn down in 1966. After years of work, Oregon spent $31 million to bring it back.

Now the tunnel lives again, ready for you to walk through this piece of road history brought back from the dead.

Swiss Tunnels Sparked a Vision During a 1908 Road Trip

Sam Hill and Samuel Lancaster went to Paris in 1908 for the First International Road Congress. After the meeting, they visited Switzerland and saw the Axenstrasse tunnels along Lake Lucerne.

These tunnels had windows cut into the rock that showed off views of the lake.

Hill and Lancaster took photos of the tunnels, thinking they could build something similar back in Oregon to deal with the tough terrain in the Columbia River Gorge.

A Sheer Cliff Made Regular Road Building Impossible

In 1913, surveyors looked at Mitchell Point and found a problem. The huge basalt cliff dropped straight down to the Columbia River with no room for a normal road.

It was the hardest spot on the planned highway route. John Arthur Elliott, a young engineer, saw a photo of the Swiss tunnels and got an idea.

He told the Oregon Highway Commission they should build a windowed tunnel through the rock. Despite the high cost, the commission approved his plan.

Construction Crews Hung From Ropes Over a 400-Foot Drop

Finding workers for the tunnel was nearly impossible. Many contractors refused the job after seeing the site.

The work meant hanging from ropes on a cliff while handling dynamite. Elliott finally found brave crews to start the project in 1914.

Workers dangled hundreds of feet above the river, drilling holes for explosives by hand. They faced dangers from falling rocks, blasts, and harsh winter weather every day.

Five Windows Weren’t Just Pretty – They Served a Practical Purpose

Elliott’s design included five arched windows along the tunnel’s river side.

These windows let in natural light so drivers didn’t need headlights during the day and gave travelers great views of the Columbia River.

Workers carefully placed explosives to create rough openings, then spent weeks hand-carving the perfect arches. Elliott also added drainage channels to stop ice buildup that could make the tunnel unsafe in winter.

The 1915 Opening Made Headlines Across America

The Mitchell Point Tunnel opened to traffic in 1915 after 18 months of dangerous work. It cost $47,000, about $1.3 million today, making it one of the most costly road sections built at that time.

Newspapers called it the “Tunnel of Many Vistas,” and people came from all over for the opening.

Cars lined up to be among the first to drive through. Local officials gave speeches saying American engineering could match or beat anything in Europe.

Tourists Couldn’t Get Enough of the Unique Tunnel Views

During the 1920s and 30s, Mitchell Point Tunnel became the main attraction of the Columbia River Highway. National magazines wrote about it in travel stories.

Movie crews filmed it for newsreels. Hundreds of tourists stopped each day to take photos in the tunnel’s windows.

Postcard companies couldn’t print them fast enough. The tunnel became the symbol of Oregon tourism, showing up on state maps and travel brochures.

Modern Cars Grew Too Big for the Narrow Passage

After World War II, Americans bought bigger cars and drove more than before. The narrow tunnel, built for Model Ts and early touring cars, felt cramped and unsafe.

Trucks couldn’t fit through at all. Traffic jams happened often as drivers slowed to squeeze through.

By 1953, state officials closed the tunnel to vehicles, calling it a safety hazard. Crews filled it with rocks while planners worked on a new route.

Dynamite Blasts Erased the Tunnel in 1966

The federal government started a big interstate highway program in the 1950s, and planners needed a route through the Columbia Gorge. Their maps showed the new Interstate 84 running through Mitchell Point.

Despite pleas from history lovers, in 1966 they decided the tunnel had to go. Crews set charges in the old tunnel and surrounding rock.

With several loud blasts, they destroyed John Elliott’s masterpiece. Bulldozers pushed the rubble into the Columbia River, and work on the new highway began.

Highway Preservationists Fought for Decades to Bring It Back

The loss of Mitchell Point Tunnel upset many Oregonians. In the 1980s, a movement to save what was left of the historic highway gained support.

The Oregon legislature named the old route as a State Trail in 1987, protecting it from more damage. A group of history fans and outdoor lovers pushed to rebuild the tunnel.

They talked to officials, gathered signatures, and raised awareness for years. Studies in the early 2000s showed rebuilding was possible but would cost millions.

A $31 Million Project Recreated the Historic Tunnel

After years of planning, the Oregon Department of Transportation got $31 million in 2020 to rebuild Mitchell Point Tunnel. Work teams started in 2021, using old blueprints and photos as guides.

Modern tunnel-boring machines did much of the work that once needed men hanging from ropes. Builders faced delays from COVID and supply problems but kept going.

The new tunnel matched the original’s 655-foot length and included the five windows that made the 1915 version famous.

Hikers and Bikers Got Their Tunnel Back in 2025

A chilly November day in 2024 saw the official dedication of the new Mitchell Point Tunnel. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original builders cut the ribbon.

The tunnel opened to the public in March 2025, welcoming hikers and cyclists instead of cars. Engineers added safety features like better lighting and drainage while keeping the look and feel of the 1915 original.

The reborn tunnel filled the last gap in the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, letting people travel the entire 73-mile route from Portland to The Dalles without touching the interstate.

Elliott’s vision, born from those Swiss tunnels, lives again for new generations to enjoy.

Visiting Mitchell Point Tunnel

You can visit the recreated Mitchell Point Tunnel at I-84 eastbound Exit 58 near Hood River for free.

This 655-foot tunnel has five arched windows that copy Switzerland’s Axenstrasse tunnels and give you great Columbia River views. The original was built in 1915 but torn down in 1966 for the interstate.

The new version opened in 2025 as part of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail with paved paths, benches, and picnic tables.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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