Vantage, Washington
| Vantage, Washington | |
|---|---|
| CDP | |
 Location of Vantage in Washington |
|
| Coordinates: 46°56′48″N 119°59′30″W / 46.94667°N 119.99167°WCoordinates: 46°56′48″N 119°59′30″W / 46.94667°N 119.99167°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kittitas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Land | 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 70 |
| • Density | 219.7/sq mi (84.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 98950 |
| Area code(s) | 509 |
| FIPS code | 53-74200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1511390 |
Vantage is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 70 at the 2000 census.
The area around Vantage has been occupied by the Wanapum Native Americans since prehistory. A number of well-preserved rock-paintings have been found on the cliff walls. They also used the abundant petrified wood in the area for arrowheads and other tools. The site where these petroglyphs were found was inundated by the rising waters behind Wanapum Dam in the 1960s. About 60 of the more than 300 carvings were cut from the basalt cliff face and saved. The nearby Ginkgo Petrified Forest site is one of the most unusual fossil forests in the world, and was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1965.
In the early part of the 20th century, residents in nearby Ellensburg needed a more direct route when traveling east. So in 1914, a car ferry was established to carry traffic across the Columbia River at Vantage. This ferry was really just a small barge with wooden ramps at either end, and could carry only two cars at a time across the river. After several cars (some with occupants still in them) were lost overboard from the tiny ferry, the State Highway Department decided to construct a bridge over the Columbia.
In 1927, the 1640-foot bridge was opened at Vantage. This was an important link in the Sunset Highway, the major east-west thoroughfare in Washington State at the time(now I-90). The construction of the bridge required workers to enter pressurized caissons 70 feet under the riverbed via airlocks. Some workers became seriously ill from the effects of the pressure. Once completed, the bridge had a 70-foot clearance on the center span, allowing for river traffic to pass under the bridge.
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Wikipedia