Gallery: The Northwest in the National Park Service Centennial collection | Washington State Magazine

A View of the Hagerman Fossil Beds Monument, HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT. Photo NPS

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, MINIDOKA NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. On March 30, 1942, 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes by soldiers carrying out Executive Order 9066. Today, the Memorial stands on the site were men, women and children waited to begin their long journey to an unknown destination for an indeterminate amount of time. Photo NPS

Barlow Road, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. After many families died in the cold rapids of the Columbia River, emigrants sought an alternative route to reach their destination in the Oregon Territory. Barlow road followed the southern banks of the Columbia, around Mt Hood and through the deep forest to Oregon City. Photo NPS

Blue Mountain Crossing, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. The cool shade of the conifers at the top of the Blue Mountains was a welcome relief for emigrant wagon trains after climbing for miles in sweltering heat from the valley floor. Photo NPS

Clarno Palisades, JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT. The Palisades dominate the skyline of the Clarno Unit of the monument. Photo NPS

Columbia River, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. The river route of the Oregon Trail often proved to be a deadly choice for emigrants. The cold, swift currents of the river were difficult to navigate on a raft and many lost family members enroute to their destination. Photo NPS

Crossing Lava, CRATERS OF THE MOON NATIONAL MONUMENT & PRESERVE. Every year 3,000-4,000 students visit Craters of the Moon. Photo Dave Clark

Devils’ Gate, Wyoming, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. A gap formed on this rock buttress from running water over many years. Devil’s Gate in Wyoming was an important landmark for emigrants traveling on the Mormon Pioneer, California, and Oregon national historic trails. At this point they were nearly half-way on their journey. Photo NPS

Farewell Bend, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. After weeks of following the Snake River from Fort Hall, emigrant wagon trains of the 1840s-1860s bid farewell to it as they continued northwest toward the Columbia River. Photo NPS

Grizzly bear on Swan Lake Flats, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Photo Jim Peaco/NPS

Guernsey Wagon Ruts, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Thousands of iron-clad, emigrant wagon wheels have cut deep ruts into solid rock near Guernsey, Wyoming. Photo NPS

Independence Rock, Wyoming, MORMON PIONEER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Independence Rock in Wyoming was an important landmark for emigrants traveling on the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, and California national historic trails. Many hoped to arrive here, the middle of their journey, by the fourth of July. Photo NPS

Laurel Hill, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. To avoid the perilous, cold rapids of the Columbia River, emigrant wagon trains of the 1840s-1860s sometimes chose to take the land route around Mt. Hood. Descending Laurel Hill required locking the wagon wheels with a stout log and anchoring the wagon with ropes lashed to trees. Photo NPS

Millers Chapel, OREGON CAVES NATIONAL MONUMENT & PRESERVE. The second largest room at Oregon Caves. Photo NPS

Monument View from Across the River. HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT. Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument near Hagerman, Idaho, contains the largest concentration of Hagerman horse fossils in North America. Photo NPS

Moses Coulee, ICE AGE FLOODS NATIONAL GEOLOGIC TRAIL. Moses Coulee cuts into the Waterville plateau in Douglas County, Washington. It is to the west of and roughly parallel to the more famous Grand Coulee. Photo Dunbar/NPS

Mountain goad kid, Glacier National Park

Mountain Goat Kid, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. The iconic symbol of Glacier National Park is the mountain goat. This young goat is just learning to scamper around the rocky cliffs in the park. Photo Tim Rains/NPS

Names Hill, Wyoming, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. This bluff along the Green River in Wyoming has been years for years by American Indians, and later explorers and emigrants. The most famous name carved here is Jim Bridger, a mountain man. This site is on the national register. Photo NPS

North Fork Quinault Trail, OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK. In the rain forest and traveling near river grade now, the trail encounters many sections of helpful boardwalks in wetter areas. Photo MJuran/NPS

Pacific Springs Hotel, PONY EXPRESS NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Remains of the old hotel and Pony rider station at Pacific Springs in southwestern Wyoming. Photo NPS

Skyline Ridge Primitive Trail, OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK. Lake Beauty is the largest of the lakes and small tarns dotting the area. Its beautiful emerald color is in drastic contrast to the blue skies seen during our hike. Photo MJuran/NP

South Pass, Wyoming, OREGON NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. This broad open saddle called South Pass in Wyoming located on the continental divide is one of the high points along the Oregon, California, and Mormon Pioneer national historic trails. Photo NPS

Split Rock viewpoint, Wyoming, MORMON PIONEER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. A viewpoint of Split Rock in Wyoming provides three exhibits to learn about emigrant trails. Emigrants on the California, Mormon Pioneer, and Oregon national historic trails passed this landmark as they approached the top of the continental divide on the emigrant trails. Photo NPS

Sunrise on the train, KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH – SEATTLE UNIT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK. Sun rising over mountains in the distance and reflecting off of the train. Photo NPS

Viewing the Monument, HAGERMAN FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT. A look at the monument from the Snake River Overlook. Photo NPS

Visitors walk around Warm Springs in Wyoming, MORMON PIONEER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Visitors walk around a shallow pool of water named Warm Springs in Wyoming, a feature found on the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. Water was important for the survival of emigrant wagon teams, and at times rare throughout their long journey west. Photo NPS

Visitors walk to Porter’s Rock, a small emigrant landmark in Wyoming. MORMON PIONEER NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL. Porter’s Rock is a small landmark on the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail in Wyoming. Photo NPS