Knappton Cove Heritage Center

Established as a non-profit organization in 1995, the Knappton Cove Heritage Center was created to save the old Columbia River Quarantine Hospital structure. This Quarantine Station was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 when owners Clarence and Katharine Bell had retired from running "Knappton Cove Camp," their sport fishing campground. Local historian and Director of the Pacific County Historical Society, Larry Weathers, knew this place was a treasure. He was successful in obtaining the official designation on the National Register.

The Bell family took care of the property into the next generation, then in 1995, Nancy Bell Anderson opened her portion of the Station--the Quarantine Hospital--to the public. She begins her memoir, The Columbia River's "Ellis Island": The Story of Knappton Cove with The Astorian article that brought this property into the Bell family's life:

"The Astorian newspaper printed an article in June of 1950 announcing that the old Government Quarantine Station near Knappton was on the auction block. It was described as “Suitable for Resort” and went on to state that, ironically, its original guests were not always willing ones. Federal legislation in 1891 had mandated the medical inspection of all arriving immigrants in an effort to control the spread of communicable diseases. Although Ellis Island handled the largest number of immigrants, there were other ports of entry. The Columbia River was one of only four major ports of entry on the west coast."

Knappton Cove became part of Nancy Bell Anderson's life the summer she turned 12, but it wasn't until years later that she delved into the history that makes this site so unique. Her research into the history surrounding the Quarantine Station led her on a cross-country journey! You’ll see that the layers of history weave together with the Columbia River at its center. Exhibits and artifacts at the museum touch on these layers of history, with a focus on the history of the U.S. Public Health Service.

Knappton Cove Timeline 1700’s, 1800’s & 1900’s:

1700’s   Chinook Indians Camping & Fishing Grounds

1792   British Ship Chatham (Vancouver’s Expedition) documents purchase of salmon from Chinook Indians at Knappton Cove.

1805   Lewis & Clark Expedition camps nearby on North Shore of Columbia River.

1814 British Navy Ship, Isaac Todd, anchors offshore at cove with Jane Barnes aboard (1st White Woman in lower Columbia area). Location named “Todd’s Bay.”

1853   Job Lamley takes up 301 acre Donation Land Claim at the cove.

1869   J.B. Knapp purchases east part of land claim & founds sawmill town of Knappton.

1876   Joseph Hume purchases remaining property for fish cannery: Eureka and Epicure Packing Company.

1870’s   Immigrants flow into Pacific NW attracted by the salmon fishing and logging industries.

1899   Concern about communicable disease leads U.S. Government to purchase this cannery site and convert the facility to the Columbia River Quarantine Station. Thousands of European & Asian immigrants pass through this public health station.

1939    Station closes due to medical advances and better health controls. Bureau of Lighthouses maintains a navigational beacon on the dock.

1943 U.S. Army Signal Corps stays briefly at the cove.

1950   Clarence and Katharine Bell purchase site at Government Surplus Auction and establish Knappton Cove Camp--a campground and boat moorage facility for sport fishing.

1960   Hwy 401 cuts through the property at river frontage.

1970   Storms severely damage dock.

1980   Site is placed on the National Register of History Places.

1994   Property is subdivided and sold to family members.

1995   Knappton Cove Heritage Center is established in the Hospital building (aka a “lazaretto” or “pesthouse”)

Anderson, Nancy Bell. The Columbia River's "Ellis Island": The Story of Knappton Cove. Edition 2. Volume 1. Gearhart, Oregon. Heritage Folk Press, 2012.

Appelo, Carlton. Knappton, The First 50 Years. Wakiakum County Phone Book.1975. Resources located at the Appelo Archive Center, Naselle, Washington.

Columbia River Quarantine Station Log. Astoria, Oregon, 1906-1938. Original document located at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum, Ilwaco, Washington.

"Historic Knappton Quarantine Station for Sale." The Astorian. (Astoria) June 1st 1950.

"Quarantine Guards Port From Disease." The Sunday Oregonian (Portland) October 2nd 1921.

Weathers, Larry. The Sou'wester: The Columbia River Quarantine Station at Knappton Cove. South Bend, Washington: Pacific County Historical Society, Inc. Autumn 1982.