The town of Shaniko was no accident. It was planned before it was born. It was the brainchild of a group of bankers and businessmen in The Dalles and by 1900many permanent buildings existed including a hotel, a combination City Hall, Fire Hall and jail and other structures some of which still stand. The reason for the town was the enormous production of wool, Central Oregon being one huge sheep ranch in the 1900s. The only outlet for these thousands of bales of fleece was the The Dalles. In 1898, in order to expedite the shipment of wool, a railroad was brought in from Biggs Junction on the Columbia River. Since a railroad could not be useful without a terminal, Shaniko was built for that express purpose.

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Wasco County | Central Oregon

All Photos Above Courtesy of Dolores Steele