Following our drive along the Columbia River Scenic Byway, my brother wanted to stop by the Bonneville Fish Hatchery to see the Sturgeon Viewing Area. He was taking advantage of our outing to further investigate some of the places tourists will ask about while he is volunteering at the Multnomah Falls information desk. Not having been there myself, I was more than happy to tag along.
What is it that makes mid 1900s government-built offices and houses so distinctive? I wish I could explain it, but I can't. There's just something about the windows, the roofs, and the white siding that screams "Government Issue."
The sturgeon, and other fish, can be viewed through murky windows inside this little building. One walks down a few stairs and can look into the pond where they live. To the right, you can see people looking directly down into the pond from another convenient viewing area.
Despite the murky windows, I tried to take a few fish photos. I don't know what kind this one is. Perhaps some sort of salmon?
I am quite sure this gigantic fish is Herman the Sturgeon; this is where he lives, and this was the biggest sturgeon in the pond. He is 81 years old, eleven feet long, and weighs nearly 500 pounds. Sorry about all the reflections in the glass! If you are into fish stories, you can read all about him here.
I found it a little unnerving to look at the outside of the fish-viewing building and realize I had been standing below the water level.
It was difficult to take a photo of the pond, due to the reflections, but you can see the big sturgeon in the water.
Signs told us not to feed the fish in the above pond, but other ponds nearby were stocked with various kinds of fish and a person can actually buy food from a dispenser. The ducks were hanging around, hoping for spillage.
And, since this is considered to be prime Bigfoot country, it was no surprise to find a Bigfoot statue outside the gift shop. Supposedly, one of them was spotted crossing the road about half a mile from my home when I lived there as a child. I did not sleep well for quite some time after that.