Rock Island, Washington — Columbia Dam Before the Famous Ones

Rock Island became a hydroelectric town before giant Columbia River dams became familiar.

Rapids and rocky islands once made this stretch of river difficult for navigation while advertising the energy in the current.

Rock Island Dam began generating electricity in the early 1930s and became the first major dam to span the Columbia.

Grand Coulee and later projects soon overshadowed it.

The dam nevertheless helped establish the engineering pattern that transformed the river, while also altering fish passage and habitat in ways that would become familiar throughout the basin.

Modern Rock Island sits among hydropower, orchards and the expanding Wenatchee area.

It is easy to forget the dam because much larger ones came later.

Being first and being famous are not the same thing.