The historic district lies within the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It contains seven former basalt quarries that once supplied the stone for the paving material (Belgian Block) of Portland’s streets. When the contract for the stone ended in 1909, the quarries shut down. Only the remains of the quarries, their tailings and two portions of rock road survive.

Lewis and Clark reported three villages in this area, which is now part of the Vancouver Lakes Archaeological District. Beginning in the 1950’s, archaeologists extensively surveyed the area and determined that it spans 3,000 years of permanent and temporary domestic occupation.

The American Woman’s League (AWL) was a national suffrage organization founded by Edward Lewis, of St. Louis. He created the AWL as a subscription scheme. It encouraged construction of “chapter houses” and this is one of two that was built in Washington, and the only one that survives. AWL provided the plans and funding and locals provided the land. This is a Class I House, built in the Prairie Style in 1910. Lewis was convicted of mail fraud and served his sentence at McNeil Island prison. AWL dissolved in 1914.

This immense Greek Revival home on the Lewis River was built by Lancaster about 1850. Inspired by the Lewis and Clark expedition he left Missouri in 1847 by wagon train, arriving in Oregon City later that year. An attorney, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Provisional Supreme Court of Oregon, and in 1851 was elected to the Territorial Legislature. In 1853 he became the first delegate to Congress of the new Washington Territory. His home was thought the finest in the Territory when built. After his death in 1893, Lancaster’s books and documents were retrieved by historian Edmund S. Meany for his personal library.

David Altizer homesteaded this farm in 1875. The barn was likely built between 1875 and 1910 in the Dutch style. The Burrow family purchased and named the farm in 19211.

Shobert, a carpenter, built this 2.5 story wood frame home in 1907. Its evident craftsmanship and integrity make it perhaps the most architecturally significant home in Ridgefield. Shobert’s Landing, as it was called, was an important stop along the Columbia River. The home eventually became a boarding house. It remained in the family until at least the 1980’s.