The Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a full-scale Chinookan Plankhouse located on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. It was built based on archaeological evidence from the Cathlapotle archaeological site located on the refuge property. This archaeological site is what remains of the town of Cathlapotle, a Chinookan town encountered by Lewis and Clark on their expedition.
The Plankhouse and the objects inside of it offer a tangible link to those who lived here in the past and provides a unique site for the interpretation of the natural and cultural heritage preserved on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Washington.
The Plankhouse is typically open from Noon to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from April to October, and by special arrangement. As much as we would like to keep the Plankhouse open more, open hours are based on volunteer availability, so please check the calendar before making a trip out. The Plankhouse also offers various programs and workshops, check the calendar for a complete list of upcoming activities. We invite you to explore this web site and come out to the refuge to explore the Plankhouse.