November History Pub: The Deschutes River; A History

About this event

November 17, 2026 Note that this presentation is a week earlier than our usual “Last Tuesday of the Month” due to the Thanksgiving Holiday

The Deschutes River is one of the world’s largest spring-fed rivers, renowned for its steady flow and stunning vistas. Humans lived along the Deschutes for thousands of years without altering the river or its flow. However, that balance shifted when early settlers began using its waters for power and irrigation. In the early twentieth century, railroad companies blasted their way up the lower canyon, while the timber industry turned sections of the upper river into an industrial zone. In recent decades, shifting views of river ecology, scenic values, and recreation have brought new perspectives on the river and renewed hope for its future. Historian and author Glenn Voelz tells the story of how the modern Deschutes came to be.

About the Presenter : Glenn Voelz served as an intelligence officer for 25 years in the Army, holding senior leadership positions at the Pentagon, the White House Situation Room, and NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He was an assistant professor of history at West Point and has authored several books on Oregon history, including his new book, The Deschutes River: A History . He serves as a board member of the Deschutes County Historical Society and the Deschutes Historical Museum.

“The Deschutes River: A History” Books will be available for purchase at this event.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

From Deschutes County Historical Society