Fort Raines, Military blockhouse near Columbia River, Washington, United States
Fort Raines was a military blockhouse on the Washington side of the Columbia River, positioned west of the Bridge of the Gods in the middle cascades region. The structure guarded the portage route that bypassed the dangerous Cascade Rapids.
The United States Army built Fort Raines in October 1855 to secure the portage road around Cascade Rapids, then abandoned it in 1857. The blockhouse represented an early military effort to control key transportation corridors along this strategic river passage.
The Memorial Blockhouse, built in 1927 near the original location, served as a commemorative structure until its eventual destruction in later years.
The site is marked by two information signs that explain the fort's history and purpose. The location is easily accessible near the Bridge of the Gods and allows visitors to stop for a brief view of the historical area.
General Gabriel J. Raines, the fort's namesake, later invented anti-personnel mines that Confederate forces deployed during the Civil War. This lesser-known connection reveals how military careers evolved during that period.
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