Oregon City is the oldest incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, founded in 1844 at the falls of the Willamette River — the point where the Oregon Trail ended for most emigrants who arrived by wagon from Missouri. It sits about 20 km south of Portland and is part of the metropolitan area, but it has a distinct identity shaped by its historical significance and the dramatic geography of the Willamette Falls.
The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center tells the story of the emigrant journey well. The Willamette Falls, though largely hidden from public view by industrial works, is one of the largest waterfalls by volume in North America — efforts to restore public access to the falls have been ongoing. Downtown Oregon City is situated on a lower terrace below a basalt bluff, connected to the upper level by a free municipal elevator that has been operating since 1915. The historic district includes the restored McLoughlin House and the McLoughlin Promenade along the bluff edge, with views over the river and the Willamette Falls Locks below.