Who named the Cascade Mountains?

Unveiling the Namesake: Who Really Named the Cascade Mountains?

The Cascade Mountains. Just the name conjures up images of snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and, well, cascades! This magnificent range, stretching from British Columbia all the way down to Northern California, is a true icon of the Pacific Northwest. But have you ever stopped to wonder who actually came up with the name “Cascade Mountains”? It’s a bit of a winding story, actually.

Sure, early Spanish explorers called them “Sierra Nevada,” which means “snowy mountains” – pretty straightforward. And the famous British navigator George Vancouver? He went with the “eastern snowy range.” Creative, right? But the name we all know and love today has a more interesting tale behind it.

The most obvious answer lies right there in the name itself: the cascades! Specifically, the series of small waterfalls and rapids that used to churn along the Columbia River Gorge. Think of it: the roar of the water, the spray in the air… it must have been quite a sight.

Lewis and Clark, those intrepid explorers, bumped into these Cascade Rapids way back in 1805. And let me tell you, for years, those rapids were a major headache for anyone trying to navigate the Columbia River Gorge. Seriously, they were the last big obstacle. Now, sadly, they’re all underwater, buried beneath the Bonneville Reservoir. But back in the day, they were the defining feature of the area. So, naturally, the mountains looming over those rapids became known as the “mountains by the cascades.” Makes sense, doesn’t it? Eventually, that just got shortened to “the Cascades.”

But here’s where it gets a little more interesting. We can thank a Scottish botanist named David Douglas for really cementing the name in our minds. In 1825, Douglas became the first person on record to climb the Cascade Mountains above the Columbia River Gorge. Talk about an adventure! He was hired by the Horticultural Society of London to explore the region, and he spent his time documenting all the amazing plants and animals he found. Now, he didn’t officially name the mountains during those first climbs, but from 1826 onward, his journals are full of references to the “Cascade Mountains.” And that, my friends, is what really helped the name stick. By 1841, you’d see “Cascade Range” splashed across maps, covering a huge area north and south of the Columbia River.

Of course, it’s worth remembering that individual mountains within the range have their own stories. Vancouver, being the name-dropping kind of guy, named Mount Rainier after his buddy Admiral Peter Rainier. Mount St. Helens got its name from Alleyne FitzHerbert, some baron guy. And Mount Hood? Named after Lord Samuel Hood. Mount Baker, on the other hand, was named after one of Vancouver’s lieutenants, Joseph Baker. And Mount Adams? Well, that came later, named in honor of President John Adams.

So, there you have it. While those cascading waters of the Columbia River provided the initial spark, it was David Douglas, with his botanical explorations and prolific writing, who really made “Cascade Mountains” a household name. And hey, his legacy lives on! Ever heard of the Douglas fir? Yep, named after the same guy. And there’s even a Mount David Douglas in Oregon. Pretty cool, right?