1891 Cuthbert Expedition - Photo Replication
Photograph Replication Project - Upper Columbia River - Colville Confederated Tribes History/Archaeology Program
Guide to the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey of the Columbia River, 1891
In 1890, Congress appropriated funds for the surveying and improvement of the Columbia River in Washington State, including $10,000.00 for surveying the river from the International Boundary downriver to Rock Island Rapids (Symons 1893:3381). In 1891, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, under the direction of Captain Thomas W. Symons and led by William Cuthbert, completed this survey as far downstream as the Okanogan River (Symons 1893:3381; See also, Duke University 1971).
Cuthbert Report
From March 1891 through December 1891, Cuthbert and his crew conducted much of the upper Columbia River survey in small boats starting near the International Boundary and moving downstream. Reporting to Captain Symons, Cuthbert provided a detailed report on topography, water levels and velocity, obstructions to navigation and recommendations for their improvement/removal, railroads, mines, minerals, and towns, plotted topographical maps, and photographed the river channel and surrounding landscape (Cuthbert 1893:3391-3399, see also Symons 1893:3381-3391).
Right: Cuthbert (1893:3391) Report
At least 134 photographs were taken and nine map sheets were drafted by the 1891 Cuthbert expedition of the Columbia River and its vicinity from the International Boundary to the mouth of the Okanogan River (Symons 1893:3390). In his summary, Captain Symons wrote that “Many other photographs were taken, but those sent comprise those most clearly illustrating the river” (Symons 1893:3390). Cuthbert photographs referenced in Symons’ report (1893:3384-3390) align with descriptions in the Guide to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey of the Columbia River, 1891 photograph summary document compiled by Duke University (1971).
Duke University’s (1971) guide to the 1891 expedition is based on an inventory of two 1891 expedition photo albums containing a total of 74 photographs (Album I: No. 2-No. 50, and Album II: No. 3-No.70, respectively), sixteen of which are duplicates, taken from the International Boundary to the head of Elbow Bend (river mile 654-655) (Duke University 1971). The Guide provides photograph number, brief location information, and brief photograph orientation content.
Right: No. 20, Bay Above Little Dalles, 1891.
In 2006, Joyce Rolstad, Seattle District Corps office, used original photographs in the Corps collections to create digital copies of the 1891 William Cuthbert Columbia River Expedition photographs. Corps Archaeologist Lawr Salo presented copies of 53 digital images to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (Colville Confederated Tribes [CCT]) History/Archaeology (H/A) Program on February 14, 2006. These 1891 expedition photographs encompass portions of the Columbia River and its environs from the International Boundary to Mitre Rock, about four miles upriver of the post-dam mouth of the Spokane River.
Above: 2009 Replication of 1891 photograph No. 16. Right: No. 16, Sheep Creek Bend, Downriver Side, 1891
Using Symons’ and Cuthbert’s Expedition reports, Duke’s 1891 Guide, and digital copies of the 1891 photographs provided by the Seattle Corps office, in 2009, the CCT H/A Program sought to replicate 53 of the 1891 expedition photographs with respect to photographer vantage point and azimuth. In addition, we wanted to collect Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates for each photograph point to more steadfastly tie them into the Columbia River landscape. While 1891 and 2009 photographs would provide the opportunity to compare and contrast observable changes to the river valley, we also thought we might discern those 1891 photographed locations wherein an archaeological site has since been documented. Potentially, the 1891 photograph could contribute to National Register of Historic Places site eligibility, significance, and integrity.
Right: Dip Net at Kettle Falls
From June 1, 2009 through June 10, 2009, John Pouley, Brent Martinez, and George Bishop conducted Cuthbert Photo Replication field work. Lake Roosevelt reservoir elevations fluctuated from 1274.7 (6/1/2009) feet above sea level to 1282.8 (6/9/2009) feet above sea level. Depending on location, Lake Roosevelt reservoir water elevations encountered in 2009 can be approximately 50-95 feet higher than Columbia River water elevations encountered during the 1891 survey.
Throughout field work, the crew carried two 8.5” x 11” prints of each of the 53 photographs; one image as received, one image as a mirror- or reverse-image. They also carried Duke University’s Guide to the 1891 expedition so that photo numbers, brief location information, and brief photograph content was readily available. Travelling by boat, the field crew used available documentation and easily recognizable topographic markers, horizons, and formations, etc., to navigate as closely to the 1891 photographer’s vantage point as possible. Photographs were taken and bearings and additional information were documented and UTM data was collected at each location. Results of field work were provided in a report (Covington2009).
*Lake Roosevelt reservoir elevation as measured in feet above sea level at the forebay. Obtained from Bureau of Reclamation website accessed 8/19/2020. Above: Lake Roosevelt reservoir elevations as measured in feet above sea level at the forebay. Right: Brent Martinez and George Bishop replicating 1891 photograph No. 16. – Sheep Creek Bend
In the following slides, Cuthbert’s 1891 photographs and our 2009 replications are presented along with the 1891 captions from Duke University’s Guide (1971) and our 2009 supplementary information. In addition, we have included our best approximation of the 1891 photographer’s vantage point and bearing on a map with an arrow depicting the direction the photographer was looking.
Points, depicted by white arrows with a black halo, within the interactive map indicate the location from which the 2009 photograph was taken while the orientation of the arrow indicates the general photograph bearing.
1891 Description: Information is taken from Duke University’s (1971) Guide to the 1891 expedition.
2009 Description: Information is taken from CCT H/A Program’s 1891 Cuthbert Expedition – Photo Replication document (Covington 2009).
Right: John Pouley
Attachment Viewer
Photos: Kettle Falls Historic Center, University of Washington Libraries
The Cuthbert photo replication project and creation of this story map was conducted by the CCT History/Archaeology Program for the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) under contract with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). Contributions from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, provided the impetus.
