WHEREAS, Skamania County, Washington was created on March 9, 1854; and
     WHEREAS, Skamania County's original boundaries extended from the foothills of the Cascade Mountains to the crest of the Rocky Mountains, its county seat located on the southeast corner of the land claim of J.A. Chenoweth who, in the summer of 1854, was appointed Associate Justice of the Washington Territorial Supreme Court; and
     WHEREAS, The County's officers were appointed on March 23, 1854; and
     WHEREAS, Skamania County is known for Mount St. Helens, the western base of Mount Adams, the Columbia River Gorge, majestic forests, mountains and streams, and unique geological events; and
     WHEREAS, Skamania County citizens and visitors enjoy excellent hiking, hunting, fishing, winter recreational sports, windsurfing, boating, bird watching, and wildlife viewing; and
     WHEREAS, People from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond venture to Skamania County to experience its exceptional scenic, natural beauty; and
     WHEREAS, In 1805-06 the Lewis and Clark Expedition traversed Skamania County, helping to open up the west to settlement and development, and in so doing named Beacon Rock, an 848-foot core of an extinct volcano, today a hiker's favorite; and
     WHEREAS, The Skamania County area has been home to the Cascade Chinook Tribe for more than 10,000 years; and
     WHEREAS, Skamania County was part of the water route for the Oregon Trail, and once had a portage railroad to help settlers circumvent the treacherous Cascade rapids; and
     WHEREAS, The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad completed its route through the Cascade Mountains in Skamania County on March 11, 1908, at a Golden Spike Ceremony connecting the eastern United States with the Pacific Northwest;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the rich history of Skamania County and acknowledge that on Tuesday, March 9, 2004, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Skamania County will celebrate its 150th birthday (1854-2004), to which the public is invited, at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, 990 S.W. Rock Creek Drive, Stevenson, Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Skamania County administrators.