The Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint is a state park

State park

State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...

 on the Crooked River

Crooked River (Oregon)

The Crooked River is a tributary, long, of the Deschutes River in the U.S. state of Oregon. The river begins at the confluence of South Fork Crooked River and Beaver Creek. Of the two tributaries, the South Fork Crooked River is the larger and is sometimes considered part of the Crooked River proper...

 in Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It is on the border of Deschutes

Deschutes County, Oregon

-National protected areas:* Deschutes National Forest * Newberry National Volcanic Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,367 people, 45,595 households, and 31,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 54,583...

 and Jefferson

Jefferson County, Oregon

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 2010, its population was 21,720. It is named after Mount Jefferson. The seat of the county is Madras.-History:...

 counties.

History

The facility is named in honor of Peter Skene Ogden

Peter Skene Ogden

Peter Skene Ogden , was a fur trader and a Canadian explorer of what is now British Columbia and the American West...

 who first entered the Crooked River Valley while leading a Hudson's Bay Company

Hudson's Bay Company

The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...

 trapping party in 1825. Although no mention is made at the park itself, it was also the site of one of Oregon's sensational murders, which lead to the conviction of Jeannace June Freeman of first degree murder. She was the only woman ever sentenced to death in Oregon, a conviction that was upheld by the Oregon Supreme Court, though she was not in fact executed.

Features

Located on U.S. Route 97

U.S. Route 97 in Oregon

In the U.S. state of Oregon, U.S. Route 97 is a major north–south United States highway which runs through the state of Oregon . In Oregon, it runs from the Oregon-California border, south of Klamath Falls, to the Oregon-Washington border on the Columbia River, between Biggs Junction, Oregon and...

 nine miles north of Redmond

Redmond, Oregon

Redmond is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. Incorporated on July 6, 1910, the city is located on the eastern side of Oregon's Cascade Range, in the High Desert, and is considered the geographical heart of Central Oregon...

, Peter Skene Ogden State Scenic Viewpoint is a rest area and viewpoint with limited (but available) parking for trucks and vehicles with trailers. Facilities include restrooms, picnic tables and dramatic viewing of the Crooked River canyon, as well as a view of historic bridges across the Crooked river. The area is very popular with photographers. The developed area is on the west side of U.S. Route 97, but is accessible easily to both north and southbound traffic with a drive through parking and loop exit for both trucks and trailers.

The viewpoint is also the site of a memorial honoring World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 flying ace Rex T. Barber

Rex T. Barber

Colonel Rex T. Barber was a World War II fighter pilot. He is best known as a member of the top secret mission to intercept the aircraft carrying Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in April 1943.-Personal life:...

.