Only in Oregon - Constitution Grove
On September, 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates from the Constitutional Convention gathered in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to sign a document that would become the supreme law of the land - the U.S. Constitution.
Two hundred years later, Oregonians gathered in the Willamette National Forest in a Douglas fir and cedar grove where the trees were probably just teenagers when the Constitution was signed. The Willamette National Forest created a living memorial to that groundbreaking event.
A monument (shown below) was embedded into a large rock by the otherwise unmarked small parking area beside the Aufderheide Scenic Drive. Wooden plaques with the names of each of the signers, along with the state they represented, were placed on some of the old growth trees. The Convention's secretary, William Jackson, also is recognized with a plaque.
A 1/8 mile path, Constitution Grove Trail #3675, passes by the marked trees, starting with George Washington's plaque. Even though it was Saturday on a Labor Day weekend, we were the only ones on the little-known trail.
The sound of the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the Willamette River flowing below this river bench was the only sound to break the silence. Old growth trees towered several hundred feet above us, heavily filtering the sunlight below. Lots of fallen trees and limbs littering the forest floor told us that this grove endures harsh winter storms.
Constitution Grove is just one peaceful stop along this scenic drive from Westfir off Highway 58 to Blue River on Highway 126. The Middle Fork and Blue River Ranger Stations have a free CD you can play while you drive that opens your eyes to the many points of interest you'll see along the way. Return the CD when you finish your trip.
The drive is also popular with motorcyclists and bicyclists. A nice video shows some of the highlights from a bicyclist's point of view. The seasonal road is closed from October to April, due to heavy snows. Contact the Willamette National Forest Middle Fork Ranger Station for current road conditions and closures. This is a beautiful drive any time, but especially in the fall when the leaves turn color and drop gently to the ground.
Learn about more places and events in western Oregon by visiting the Facebook page "365 and More Things To Do in Lane County, Oregon".
Rick Obst is an Arizona native who moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2005 and fell in love with the verdant Pacific Northwest. He enjoys photography and discovering the many people, places, and events that make this part of the world so special.
To learn more about Eugene, Lane County, and western Oregon, visit 365 and More Things to do in Lane County, Oregon on Facebook. You'll see hundreds of pictures and links to discover the beauty and attractions of this special area.