Thursday, July 2, 2026

6.17.26 Baker City Museum-Elkhorn Scenic Byway-Hell's Canyon-Baker City, Oregon (PART ONE)

 We arrived at the A-Frame RV Park in Baker City, Oregon. 

The picture below made us laugh so hard!!! Whoever designed the restrooms and showers here must not have any privacy issues. The showers were in a room with only a shower curtain to separate them and an open room to change with anyone else who might be in the shower room too!

The toilet stalls had the doors cut off so that your knees could stick out underneath! So I guess everyone gets to see your pants down!



WHAT IS BIO-DIESEL

We went to get diesel for the truck and the pumps all said bio-diesel. We did a bit of googling and come to find out, Oregon ONLY sells this bio-diesel. Biodiesel is a renewable, biodegradable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease.

We did a little more research and come to find out Chevrolet will only honor their warranty if the mix is 20% or less. At this point we had no choice but to use it. Al was NOT happy.


Baker Heritage Museum

The Museum is housed in the “Old Nat” (Natatorium). It was built in 1920-21 when Baker City was the place to be. Baker City was once known as the Queen City because of its gold and mineral mining. The building had an Olympic size swimming pool, diving boards, steam baths, showers, meeting rooms and a ballroom with hard rock maple flooring. The pool was fed continuously from a spring ½ mile away. Water ballets, competitive swimming, big band dances, and roller skating were just a few of the activities held here.

Use declined during WWII and the Nat was closed. A company asked to use the building for war products and agreed to restore it after use. The company failed to hold up their end of the deal. They left the pool full of dirt. The building was then used for National guard drills, a 4-H barn, and a temporary fir station. It was considered an eyesore and was up for demolition in 1975 when the Historical Society stepped in and proposed the museum. It started out to be held in only two small rooms but now includes all of the 33,000 sq. ft building.

Something we learned in the museum:

The Chinese Massacre

The Chinese Massacre of 1887, also known as the Hells Canyon or Deep Creek Massacre, was one of the deadliest attacks against Chinese immigrants in U.S. history and one of the worst atrocities in Oregon history occurred at a remote location along the steep banks of the Snake River in Hells Canyon in 1887. At least thirty-one Chinese miners who were mining “flour gold” (fine gold dust) at the mouth of Deep Creek in Hell’s Canyon when seven white horse thieves surprised and murdered everyone. Over two days the gang shot and mutilated the bodies, then after throwing their bodies into the Snake River, the criminals fled with about $4000 dollars of the miner’s gold. All seven killers escaped justice, either by fleeing the region or by jury acquittal in 1888.

“I guess if they had killed thirty-one white men, something would have been done about it, but none of the jury knew the Chinamen or cared much about it, so they turned the men loose.” ~Local Wallowa Valley rancher who attended the trial, 1888.

We tried two other restaurants for lunch and both were closed to we ended up here at Little Pig. Check out a short video of our day below.

Exploring Baker City, Oregon





Elkhorn Scenic Byway

This two-lane byway is 106 miles long! We stopped several places along the way for photos!


Anthony Lake





We were up high enough to find snow on June 19, 2026!

Hells Canyon Scenic Byway

The Hells Canyon Scenic Byway is a loop that encircles the Wallowa Mountains. Part of the mountain road that we drove on today usually doesn’t open for traffic until June 15 because of snow. Today is the 19th! After the snow falls, the same road is used as a snowmobile trail.

Hells Canyon is a massive river gorge located in the Western United States, straddling the border of northeastern Oregon, western Idaho, and extending into southeastern Washington. Carved by the Snake River, it is the deepest river gorge in North America (at 7,993 feet deep), easily surpassing the Grand Canyon.



We drove miles and miles to the top of this mountain to see Hell's Canyon!





Check out my short video below:

More information:
Hells Canyon Scenic Byway


We drove through a tiny town called Halfway on the byway. The whole town is very patriotic! Flags and all kinds of red, white and blue decorations along with 250 years decorations were everywhere in the town! There was a bar with the name “Halfway Sober.”





Next stop...The National Oregon Trail Interpretive Center!


Don't forget...Do something every day that makes you smile! 





5 comments:

Cashton said...

Looks like fun! Marley is having lots of fun to I can see!

Anonymous said...

Can't find your video but I do agree with Caston- looks like Marley is owning this trip!😂🤣

Colleen, Al and Mr. Marley said...

I can't see who you are because it says anonymous but you just click the link right under where it says Check out my short video below.

Colleen, Al and Mr. Marley said...

We laughed so hard when we saw him peeking out under the door!

Anonymous said...

Wow!! That bathroom is crazy 🤪🤪 Looks beautiful out there! I appreciate all the work you put into these!! It’s educational and entertaining!! Judy