Monument Hill (Washington)

Monument Hill is a prominent bluff located in Pacific County, Washington, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River. It is historically significant as the final resting place of five members of the Vancouver Expedition who perished in the region in 1792. The hill offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River, Cape Disappointment, and the surrounding landscape.

The bodies of the five crew members – John Bell, Robert Brown, Thomas Burwash, Thomas Good, and John Williams – were initially buried near the expedition's encampment at what is now Chinook, Washington. In 1850, their remains were exhumed and reinterred on Monument Hill by Captain John Couch, a local mariner and prominent figure in the region. A monument, initially a wooden structure that deteriorated over time, was erected to mark the grave site.

The current monument, a concrete obelisk, was constructed in 1926 by the Daughters of the American Revolution and other local organizations. It serves as a memorial to the Vancouver Expedition and the early exploration of the Pacific Northwest. The site is maintained as a historical landmark and is accessible to the public.

Monument Hill is a significant site for historical tourism and provides visitors with an opportunity to learn about the early European exploration of the region and to pay respects to those who lost their lives during that era. It is often included as a point of interest along the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks route. The site also offers interpretive displays that provide further historical context.