18,000-15,000 years ago the Glacial Lake Missoula dam. stretching 3,000 square miles, burst and released flood waters across Idaho and Washington, and down the Columbia River into Oregon before reaching the Pacific Ocean.The Palouse Falls is the only major waterfall left along this thousands-of-years-old flood path.

Cape Disappointment is located on the southernmost end of the Long Beach Peninsula with its entrance in Ilwaco. Although it was first mapped by Spaniard Bruno De Hezeta in 1775, the Cape was named by English Captain John Meares who approached it in 1787, looking for the river’s entrance. His disappointment in not finding the entrance is given credit for the name.