When Peter Crawford reached the Oregon Territory in 1847, he was advised by Dr. Marcus Whitman to stake a claim on the Cowlitz River. Following that advice, Crawford explored up the Cowlitz in what would later become Washington Territory. For his claim, he chose the first elevated point along the Cowlitz, near where it entered the Columbia River on the east bank. Thirty-seven years later, after the arrival of many settlers--including the Redpaths, Wallaces, and Catlins--he plotted the town on his claim, which was named after his home in Kelso, Scotland. Kelso grew from its timber, fishing,...

At the end of the Lewis and Clark Exposition in 1905, the president of the Portland Street Fair and Carnival Association, E.W. Rowe, presented the idea of an annual festival to Portland mayor Harry Lane. From that idea came the first Rose Festival, called the Rose Carnival and Fiesta, held June 20-22, 1907. It was hailed as a huge success. "There is no reason in the world why Portland should not hold a rose festival every year," remarked the Oregonian on June 21. "Everyone will be happier and better all the rest of the year for the festival of roses." And indeed, that has been the case. From...