Oregon Scenic Highways
Wasco County, Wasco County, Oregon
Marker Inscription
Oregon Scenic Highways. This magnificient view is preserved and protected by the efforts of the Oregon Roadside Council, which initiated and secured the passage of the Oregon Scenic Areas Act in 1961. 3585 Scenic miles of highwat were surveyed and selected by the council, and adopted by the State Scenic Area Board. More than 7,000 signs and billboards which distracted and obscured scenic vistas were removed.
The Story
By the 1960s, Oregon's spectacular roadside vistas were increasingly cluttered by billboards and commercial signage competing for the traveler's eye. The Oregon Roadside Council, a citizen conservation group, championed the Oregon Scenic Areas Act of 1961, which surveyed some 3,585 miles of highway to protect their views. More than 7,000 signs and billboards were removed, preserving the sweeping landscapes along routes like the Columbia River Gorge for future generations.
Why it matters
This marker captures a pivotal moment in the American scenic-conservation and anti-billboard movement, which culminated nationally in the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 and reshaped how the country balances commerce against the beauty of its open roads.
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Related events
- · Oregon Scenic Areas Act of 1961
Themes & tags
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