The Pacific Northwest Coast Indians had no written language. The characters on totem poles pictorial story of a clan or tribe. The tallest totem pole is a faithful reproduction of two original Pacific Northwest Coast poles: the “Pole of Three Persons Along” and the “Sakaa’wan Pole” of the upper Nass River in Canada. To the left are the characters on the tallest totem pole, telling the story of migration from the north and displaying prominent tribal crests. Carved in the early 1960's by local Native American artist and craftsman, Don Lelooska, the totem poles before you have become a landmark, a mascot for the area and inspiration for logos, signs and brochures. Easily visible for miles, they give a sense of long-ago Native American tradition and lore to the beaches and recreation areas along the scenic Columbia River. The four poles reach heights of 39', 48', 73' and 140' and each features the mythical forms, symbols and creatures of Pacific Northwest totemic art. Northwest Coast mythology includes encounters humans had with animals and supernatural creatures. The tallest pole, at 140', has stood the test of time. It was carved from a 700 year-old Western red cedar that was donated by the Weyerhaeuser Company. The pole was commissioned by William Wineberg for display at the World’s Fair. However, it was not completed in time for the event and lay on the ground for 12 years. The other three poles stood next to Lelooska’s Native American Museum in Kalama. Concerned that the pole would be lost forever, a group of local citizens and Native American art experts applied finishing paints. Donations were collected to pay the costs of moving all four poles to their present location at the Port of Kalama. In 1974 a dedication ceremony celebrated the long-awaited event. Over the years Mother Nature exacted her toll on the totems. By 1997 all four poles were badly in need of repair. Once again, a group of local citizens banded together to save the poles. The Friends of the Totem worked for months to coordinate a massive restoration effort of erecting scaffolding and paint stripping, staining, and completely repainting the poles. All of the labor and materials were donated and traditional colors were chosen by Tsungani , Lelooska’s brother. Today, the poles stand proudly bearing a new coat of stain and paint that will take them well into the 21st century. At 140’ the largest pole is among the tallest poles in the world. The poles are owned by the Wineberg estate of Portland, Oregon, and managed by the Kalama Chamber of Commerce.