Thursday June 12, 2025,
1:30pm

Dear Friends and Supporters,

At about 3:00 pm yesterday, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
& Museum (CGDCM) was evacuated due to the Rowena Wildfire that closed Highway I-84
between Hood River and The Dalles. During the evacuation, all visitors, staff, and the beloved
raptors safely left the grounds. As of the latest updates available the building still stands,
despite fire burning all around, thanks to the heroic efforts of the emergency responders.
The staff of CGDCM are grateful for all the assistance, messages of care, and prayers that have
been given. We appreciate the great outpouring of concern that we have received and will
continue to try and provide updates as we get news. For now, most official updates are coming
from news sources, such as the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.

At the same time, we have learned of the heartbreaking loss of homes in the areas near the
Discovery Center & Museum. We are deeply saddened that our neighbors are now facing those
realities. As part of the community of The Dalles and Wasco County, we are committed to doing
all we can to lend support as we are able.

We will post more information as it becomes available to us.

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum (CGDCM) opened their doors in 1997 as the
official interpretive center of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, with a mission to
inspire stewardship of the Columbia River Gorge and Wasco County and to encourage active,
life-long learning about our shared environment and the preservation, collection and
interpretation of cultural and natural history of the region.

Please stay safe,
Dr. Cheryl Ragar