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		Dayton, Gateway To History Reprinted from February 2006 Issue -by ROSSELLA BRINA One hundred and thirty years look great on Dayton, thanks to a renovated courthouse, a restored depot, three historic districts and over 117 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. The history of Dayton stretches back to Lewis and Clark, who camped on the Patit Creek east of town on their return from the Pacific Ocean in 1806. At the time, Dayton’s Main Street was a racetrack for Native American tribes. But in 1859 homesteaders settled the area and by 1872 Dayton had been incorporated and a post office had been established. Today, the city is the site of the oldest courthouse and railroad depot in the state. Fully restored, the Columbia County Courthouse (341 East Main Street) is the oldest working courthouse in Washington, and it’s considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in the state. The two story, stucco and brick Italianate building was built in 1887 and since then, it has always housed county government. It’s listed on the National Register and was completely restored between 1991 and 1992. The building is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 4:30pm. As it is a working courthouse, no formal tours are offered, but visitors are encouraged to wander through the building at their leisure. The Dayton Historic Depot (222 East Commercial Street) is the oldest railroad depot in Washington. It was built in 1881 and was in operation until 1971. The interior is intact, with high ceilings and wainscoting typical of the era. On the north side, a three-sided bay window allows a view of the tracks from both floors. Once used as the stationmaster’s residence, the second floor provides access to the balcony running on three sides of the building. The Depot is listed in the National Register and has been restored and furnished with railroad memorabilia, antique furniture and photographs. Now a museum, it has a full time staff that takes visitors on tours of the building while relating its history. The cost of the tour is $3. The museum’s winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday 11am to 4pm or by appointment during off hours. For more information call 509-382-2026. Dayton is home to three national historic districts, downtown and two residential areas. All have self-guided walking tour maps available at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce (166 East Main) or at local merchants. The Downtown Dayton Historic District consists of 28 buildings within a four-block area. Among them are the Columbia County Courthouse, the Depot, and the Liberty Theater, recently restored to its 1940s configuration. Dayton’s Main Street is lined with quaint shops that range from art galleries to antique stores to a trading post with Lewis and Clark memorabilia. The South Side Historical District is situated on a portion of the original town site platted in 1871. A notable feature is the number of large homes on corner lots of the broad tree-lined streets. The homes range from the simple Pioneer built in the 1870’s, to turn-of-the-century Queen Anne. There are also workers’ cottages with Folk Victorian elements, spacious bungalows built between 1905 and 1925, and Territorial houses, which were built before Washington became a state in 1889. The third district includes an impressive collection of Victorian houses that were once homes to leaders in the development of the city. For group guided tours of the districts inquire at the Depot at 509-382-2026. Every year on the second Sunday in October, the Dayton Historical Society sponsors a tour of Dayton’s finest historic homes. The tour allows visitors inside several private homes listed in the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, call 509-382-2026. Rossella Brina was born in Italy and has lived in the United States for the past twenty years. A former chemist, she has been writing both fiction and non-fiction for ten years. She lives in Richland with her husband and two children.