View of Rooster Rock on the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge. Beach in the foreground.

View of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Photo taken from up river on the Oregon side of the gorge. Railroad tracks in the foreground.

View of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Photo taken from the Oregon side of the gorge. There are 2 structures, possibly houses, on the shore of the Columbia River.

Winter view of railroad tracks passing through a rock formation known as The Needles in the Columbia River Gorge. Snow on the ground.

View of railroad tracks passing through the rock formation known as the Needles on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge during the winter storm of 1884-1885. This plate is part of an album of Watkin’s New Series photographs originally owned by Charles H. Prescott, manager of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Co.

View of railroad tracks passing through the rock formation known as the Needles on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge during the winter storm of 1884-1885. This plate is part of an album of Watkin’s New Series photographs originally owned by Charles H. Prescott, manager of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Co.

View of railroad tracks passing through the rock formation known as the Needles on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge during the winter storm of 1884-1885. This plate is part of an album of Watkin’s New Series photographs originally owned by Charles H. Prescott, manager of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Co.

View of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Photo taken from the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. There are 2 structures, possibly houses, on the shore of the Columbia River. This plate is part of Carlton Watkin's "Sun Sketches of Columbia River Scenery" album.

View up the Columbia River to Mitchell Point in the distance. A large rock outcropping sits in the Columbia River in the foreground. Loose duplicate plate in 5/4. This plate is part of Carlton Watkin's "Sun Sketches of Columbia River Scenery" album.

Distant view of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, across the Columbia River on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. Taken from the McCrary farm in Oregon. OHS Collection includes 1 duplicate of this mammoth plate on a different mount.

View of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. OHS Collection includes 2 duplicates of this mammoth plate on different mounts.

View of Rooster Rock on the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge. Beach in the foreground. Watkin's photographer's tent is on the beach in the center of the image, with nearby tripod and camera also visible.

Boudoir card of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's railroad tracks passing through The Needles rock formation, Columbia River Gorge.

Boudoir card of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company's railroad tracks passing through The Needles rock formation, Columbia River Gorge.

Boudoir card of an Oregon Railway and Navigation Company relief train passing through The Needles rock formation in the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon side during the winter of 1884-1885. Three men stand beside the train.

Boudoir card of an Oregon Railway and Navigation Company relief train passing through The Needles rock formation in the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon side during the winter of 1884-1885. Three men stand beside the train.

Stereograph view of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, looking west down the Columbia River Gorge, circa 1883.

Stereograph view of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, looking west down the Columbia River Gorge, circa 1883.

Stereograph of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Columbia River Gorge, taken from Bonneville, Oregon, 1882.

Stereograph of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Columbia River Gorge, taken from Bonneville, Oregon, 1882.

Stereograph of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, 1882.

Stereograph of Castle Rock, also known as Beacon Rock, on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, 1882.

Stereograph of The Needles and the railroad tracks of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, after the winter storm of December 1884 and January 1885.

Stereograph of The Needles and the railroad tracks of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, after the winter storm of December 1884 and January 1885.

Stereograph of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co.'s railroad tracks through The Needles, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, taken after the winter storm of December 1884 and January 1885.

Stereograph of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Co.'s railroad tracks through The Needles, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, taken after the winter storm of December 1884 and January 1885.

Stereograph of Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. railroad tracks and The Needles, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, after the winter storm of December 1884. Items 2/101 and 2/102 are duplicate stereographs on different mounts. Alternate caption on stereograph 2/101: "'The Needles,' View East, Cascades, Col. River, Or."

Stereograph of Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. railroad tracks and The Needles, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, after the winter storm of December 1884. Items 2/101 and 2/102 are duplicate stereographs on different mounts. Alternate caption on stereograph 2/101: "'The Needles,' View East, Cascades, Col. River, Or."