PHOTOS: Vista House in partial disrepair as historic building celebrates 106th birthday
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Rainwater seeped into the cracked ceiling panels and plastered walls of the Vista House basement on Sunday.
The dripping water was collected in plastic bins placed atop historical exhibits and along public walkways as the Oregon landmark, which attracts more than 1 million visitors each year with its sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge, recently celebrated its 106th birthday.
Oregon State Parks spokesperson Stefanie Knowlton told KOIN 6 News that Vista House has suffered from continuous water damage since the building was dedicated on May 5, 1918.
“Water intrusion has plagued the Vista House from the year it was built,” Knowlton said. “When you add in the Columbia Gorge’s harsh, unrelenting weather, you start to understand the challenges of maintaining this historic structure.”
In 1994, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the State Historic Preservation Office and the organization Friends of Vista House agreed to pay for an assessment of the building’s condition. The study, which was completed in the summer of 1995, revealed that the building was in such a state of decay that it required sweeping repairs.
“The status of the building at that time was such that temporary repairs were no longer an option for the long-term issues of deterioration that the building faced,” the Friends of Vista House website states.
After years of fundraising, a five-year, $3.2 million renovation project was completed in 2006 to prevent a buildup of water in the building’s envelope. The restoration work included sealing the original skylights, repairing stained glass windows and replacing damaged plasterwork throughout the building. Despite the upkeep, water has continued to find its way into the Vista House.
More restoration work is planned for the building. However, there is no current timeline for when those repairs might begin. In the meantime, the state will continue to collect water in drip pans and run dehumidifiers throughout the building to combat additional water damage.
“We have staff working on the next rehab projects, but we don’t yet have a budget estimate or timeline,” Knowlton said. “Until then, we ask for visitor patience and TLC when visiting since they will continue to see buckets and other temporary measures, especially after heavy rain or ice events.”
There are no active fundraisers that contribute directly to the maintenance of Vista House. Knowlton said that Oregon State Parks currently accepts donations through a general fund, which is used for various Parks Department projects. Vista House was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2000.