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Naches Pass Monument At Greenwater, Pierce County, Washington |
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Oregon Trail Memorial The first wagon train of settlers to travel over Naches Pass was in the autumn of 1853, the same year that Washington Territory was established. The round bronze plaque by James Earle Fraser and Laura Gardin Fraser, inset into the right side of the monument, depicted a covered wagon drawn by a pair of oxen heading westward into a setting sun over the caption “Oregon Trail Memorial”. The granite tablet inset into the left side of the monument was engraved with the following information: “Marker erected in memory of pioneers who came over the Naches Branch of the Oregon Trail. Financed by students of Yale College, Pierce County Pioneer Society and other friends. Sponsored by Washington State Historical Society, 1941.” The granite tablet inset into the right side of the monument was engraved with the following information: “Names of Pioneer Families that came over the Naches Pass 1853. Aiken, Baker, Bell, Biles, Bowen, Bowers, Brooks, Brunett, Byles, Clinton, Davis, Day, Downey, Finch, Fitch, Frazier, Gant, Gordon, Greenman, Guess, Hampton, Hill, Himes, Judson, Kincaid, Lane, Light, Longmire, McCollough, Melville, Mitchell, Mueller, Neilson, Ogle, Porter, Risdon, Sargent, West, Woodward, Woolery, Wright, Young.” |
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It is not known what other information was engraved into the other two granite tablets opposite those shown in this image. The Washington State Historical Society built a number of these pyramidal shaped stone historical memorials around Pierce County. The memorials were built at least from the mid 1920's to at least the early 1940's. At least a few of these memorials still exist in Pierce County, marking various historic events and places. |
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