A group of men holding hands and a rope to form a human chain in waist-high flood water during the Vanport flood. They are attempting to rescue people trapped by rising flood water. Flooded cars and debris are visible in the water around them. Dale Skovgaard is identified as the man in the white cowboy hat. This photograph was originally taken by an Oregonian photographer (OrHi 25428).

Agnes Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. Caption on the image reads, “My mother sorting through personal items after the flood to see if anything was worth saving. Very little.”

Buildings and flotsam pressed against the Kenton Slough dike during the Vanport flood in 1948.

An envelope containing commemorative photographs taken during the Vanport flood in 1948. The envelope is white with red lettering that reads, "10 Selected Snapshots 50C. Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River. May 30, 1948." Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood with Mount St. Helens visible in the distance. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A postcard depicting damage caused by flood waters during the Vanport flood. In the image several apartment buildings which were lifted from their foundations by rising water are seen floating among debris. Several unidentified people are visible standing on rooftops, climbing on debris, and in boats. The image caption reads, "Flood destruction - Vanport, Ore. Christian V-10."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of unidentified people standing on a large pile of sandbags during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of dump trucks and tractors moving piles of sand for people to make sand bags during the Vanport flood. Several men with shovels stand to the side of the trucks waiting to return to work.

A photograph of a line of sandbags holding back flood waters in downtown Portland, Oregon. Union Station and the railroad yards are visible submerged in floodwater in the background. Several unidentified men are working to help reinforce the sandbag wall at various point. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 25."

Photograph showing a cable car during the “Great Flood of Portland” in 1894. Several men and women sit in the car, and four men stand in the water, all looking at the camera. On the right side, a woman and a baby are visible. The photograph is a reproduction of a pinned image (pins can be seen on the frame), and the caption reads “Photos, of the Great Flood of Portland, Or. June 4th 1894.” Also on the caption is written “Pro. G. L. Eastman Cor, First and Taylor Streets.”

An aerial view of a flooded roadway near Troutdale, most likely on the Columbia River. Cows can be seen on the road (negative 5 of 6).

People moving dirt on a dike in the Blue Lake and Troutdale area, during a flood event. Piles of dirt can be seen along the shoulder of a raised dirt road (negative 1 of 16).

Bundles of shovels on a pile on dirt, used during dike work in the Blue Lake and Troutdale area (negative 8 of 16).

A view of damaged apartment buildings in Vanport, Oregon after the water receded from the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “Our apartment house.”

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings that were lifted from their foundations by the water are visible among other debris in the lower left corner of the image. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of damage to Jantzen Beach Amusement Park during the Vanport flood. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A photograph depicting damage done by the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people walk across rooftops and piled debris left after flood waters lifted buildings from their foundations. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. The interstate bridge and a railroad bridge are visible in the distance. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A postcard depicting flooded trains in the railroad yards during the Vanport flood. The Image caption reads, "Flood Waters Railroad Yards, Portland, Ore. Christian V-14."

A postcard of rising flood water around Union Station during the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people working to fill sandbags are visible at the front of the building. A crowd of onlookers observe the flood waters from the railing of the Steel Bridge. The image caption reads, "Flood Waters Union Station " Portland, Ore. Christian V-12."

A photograph of an unidentified group of people viewing the damage caused by the Vanport flood. In the distance people in boats and on rooftops are visible in the flood water. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 15."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood.

A photograph of flooded industrial buildings during the Vanport flood. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 2."

A photograph of several apartments in high flood waters during the Vanport flood. The back of the image is stamped with, "Camera Art Studio 4706 N. E. Glisan VE, 3866 Portland, 13, Oregon. 3810 33. "

An aerial view of the Sandy River in Troudale, during a flood. Looking southeast, two bridges can be seen crossing the river (negative 1 of 6).