The Willamette Meteorite is the largest meteorite found in North America and is West Linn's most unique claim to fame. There are actually two replica meteorites in town you can visit. The oldest is a historical marker on a rock, that looks nothing like the real meteorite, and is located in the Willamette Historic District on Willamette Falls Drive in front of the Willamette United Methodist Church. The more recent replica, which is a smaller scale model of the meteorite, is located in Fields Bridge Park on the walking trail along the Tualatin River and is accompanied by historical information throughout the park. This second representation is also close to where the meteorite came to rest after being transported south as part of the Missoula Ice Age floods.
When the meteorite was first discovered by the local Clackamas Indians, it was named "Tomanowos" which means "Heavenly Visitor" and it was believed it had mystical powers to heal. In 1902, it was found by a settler, Ellis Hughes, who secretly moved it to his property, called it "Willamette," and charged curiosity seekers who wanted to visit. After the theft was discovered, there was a lawsuit and the Oregon Supreme Court had it returned to the original land owner, Oregon Iron & Steel Co., who then sold it to another party. Finally it was donated to The American Museum of Natural History in New York where it has been for over 100 years. When I visited the museum in New York, I laid hands on the iron-nickel meteorite and it was cold to the touch and much larger than I expected based on the replicas in my home town.
The meteorite had not rested easy in New York and there have been a series of lawsuits by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, legislation proposed, and multiple requests to return the meteorite to West Linn. But, alas, the replicas are what we have. Both replicas are in pretty parts of West Linn, so stroll through town and Fields Bridge Park and visit them both. read more