Morgan Arts Centre

Toledo History Field Trip

Take a tour of Toledo, Washington's history with this guide created by Mike Morgan.

Travel on SR-505 and Jackson Highway (once known as US Route 99 and the Pacific Highway)

• 1st Stop. Oregon Trail Marker (In town, located at the corner of N. 5th and St. Helens St.) Not all travelers on the Oregon Trail ended their journey in Oregon. Some took the Cowlitz Trail and traveled north to Toledo and beyond. So the end of the Oregon Trail became wherever you ended up. In Toledo, this century-old marker is one of 11 markers in Washington located between Vancouver and Tumwater. For more info, call City Hall (360) 864-4564.

• 2nd Stop. Klahowya Tillicum sign

The interpretive sign Klahowya Tillicum was designed by Johanna Jones and Steve Woodrum in 2019. It describes the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, the eruption of Mount St. Helens, Simon Plomondon, and more. It is located 1 mile north of town on Highway 505 in front of the City Water Tanks.

• 3rd Stop. St. Mary's Mission

The St. Mary's School site is part of the Cowlitz Mission complex, first established by a Catholic order in the 1800’s to bring Christianity to natives of the early Washington Territory. It is now owned by the Cowlitz Tribe and is Cowlitz Tribal Housing. Located 3 miles north of Toledo at 107 Spencer Road. (360) 864-8720

• 4th Stop. Saint Francis Xavier Mission, also known as the Cowlitz Mission.

The first Catholic mission north of Spanish California and west of the Mississippi. It is the oldest Catholic church in the state with the oldest cemetery in the area. Located 3 miles north of Toledo at 139 Spencer Road. (360) 864-4126

• 5th Stop. Toledo Airport (TDO)

TDO is also known as South Lewis County Airport and Ed Carlson Memorial Field and is a county- owned public-use airport located 4 miles north of Toledo at 5239 Jackson Highway. (360) 864-4966

• 6th Stop. Lewis and Clark State Park

616 acres camping park in a stand of old-growth forest. The park features 5 miles of hiking trails and 8 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and horseback riding. Evidence of the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s can be found in the park's rustic shelters and restroom facilities.

The park is located 7 miles north of Toledo at 4583 Jackson Highway, Toledo. (360) 864-2643

• 7th Stop. Jackson House State Park Heritage Site (a.k.a. the Jackson Courthouse) 1.4-acre day-use park south of US12 on the Jackson Highway. Tours are available year round by appointment. Call (360) 864-2643. The park is located 9 miles north of Toledo at 4277 Jackson Highway, Chehalis. (360) 864-2643.

• 8th Stop. Matilda Jackson State Park Heritage Site

This is a great place to finish your Toledo History Field Trip. The 5-acre day-use park is a wonderful picnic spot, with tall trees, picnic shelter and tables. It is located just north of US 12.

* Note to Parents: This is like an assignment I used with my 6th graders back in the 1990s. As you will discover, Toledo has a long and rich history. Have your kids make a Toledo History Journal: copy down info from interpretive signs, take photos, draw pictures, make rubbings, take measurements, do some math, do creative writing, write poems. If you call ahead you may be able to set up a visit with a Ranger, a Priest, a Tribal Member, a Pilot, or even the Mayor. Ask lots of questions. And check out the Historical Society located in the Community Library. Also, you may want to purchase a copy of "The Toledo Community Story" and "Washington Territory's Grand Lady" by Julie McDonald Zander

The Morgan Arts Centre is located at 190 Plomondon Rd., just north of Toledo, Washington, 98591.