The Lost Photos of The Columbia Gorge

(1914 - 1930s)

A special presentation at the Bingen Theater

This special event at the Bingen Theater features newly restored historical photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, Celilo Falls, and surrounding regions, created between 1914 and the 1930s by photographer I. R. Robison.

Originally captured on glass plate negatives, these images have been carefully restored for large-scale projection and public viewing. Many depict places that no longer exist, offering a rare visual record of the Pacific Northwest during a period of dramatic change. Seen at scale, the photographs reveal not only their historical significance but the care, composition, and intention behind them.

The presentation will include a discussion of the original glass plate process used to create the images, along with the original camera Robison used to make this remarkable body of work. Members of the Robison family will also be present, offering a personal connection to the history and preservation of the collection.

The images have been restored and prepared for presentation by Patrick F. Smith, a Portland-based professional photographer and photo-archive specialist. Smith was invited by the Robison family to work with the collection and was struck by both the technical quality and the historical depth of the photographs. While he has restored thousands of slides and film negatives across many formats, this project marked his first experience working with historic glass plates and remains one of the most significant archival projects of his career.

Hosted at the Bingen Theater, this is an opportunity to spend an evening with the Columbia Gorge as it once existed, revealed through images made over a century ago and newly brought into view.

In Partnership with the Gorge Heritage Museum

This event is presented in partnership with the Gorge Heritage Museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Western Klickitat County and Eastern Skamania County, Washington.

Housed in the former Bingen Congregational Church, dedicated in 1912, the museum maintains collections of tools, furnishings, clothing, photographs, documents, newspapers, and Native American artifacts donated by pioneer families and local collectors. Through preservation efforts, exhibitions, and community partnerships, the museum works to keep regional history accessible and meaningful for future generations.