The land south of the mouth of the Columbia River in what is now the state of Oregon was originally inhabited by the Clatsop Indians. After signing a treaty with the United States in 1851 in which they ceded much of their land to the U.S., a Presidential executive order reserved the area presently known as Fort Stevens for military purposes.
The fort, which was constructed in 1863-1864, was named Fort Stevens in honor of Isaac Stevens, the first territorial governor of Washington. During his reign, Stevens arrogantly imposed a series of treaties on the Indian nations of the territory which led to a series of Indian wars. From an Indian viewpoint, Stevens was known for his bigotry, racism, and inability to understand any culture other than his own.
The United States, concerned about protecting the mouth of the Columbia River from foreign enemies, gun emplacements, known as batteries, were constructed in 1898. The West Battery consisted of six gun emplacements which were subsequently designated as Battery Lewis, Battery Walker, and Battery Mishler. The six 10-inch disappearing rifles were the primary weapons for Fort Stevens. Strategically located on the Columbia River, the 10-inch, 617 pound shells were designed to penetrate the exterior armor of enemy ships. The four guns of Batteries Lewis and Walker were removed during World War I and shipped to France. The guns of battery Mishler were scrapped in 1941.
Today, the West Battery is a part of Fort Stevens State Park and tourists can be found wandering through the cement ruins reminiscent of European castles and ancient Roman edifices. Like the ancient Roman ruins, it will stand in 2,000 years as a monument to American civilization and its achievements. It is also listed a site of exceptional paranormal activity. Shown below are some photographs of the ruins.
The gun shown above is not real: it is a fiberglass replica.