Interesting History of the Columbia River Definition of Columbia River "A river in southwest Canada and the northwest United States, flowing south and west from southeast British Columbia through Washington along the boundary between Washington and Oregon and into the Pacific. 1214 (1955 km) long." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/columbia--river John Melish; A Geographical Description of the United States: With the Contiguous Countries, Including Mexico and the West Indies; Intended as an Accompaniment of Melish's Map of These Countries; AT Goodrich; 1826 John Melish writes: "Historical View. - The Spaniards claimed the discovery of Columbia River, and called it Ectra de Ceta. In 1791, Captain Gray, an American, in the ship Columbia from Boston, entered the river, and gave it the name of Columbia after that of his vessel; and this name it has since retained. The river was afterwards explored by Lieutenant Broughton, under the command of Vancouver, who ascended about 100 miles. In 1805 the river and its waters to the eastward were explored by Lewis and Clark, who spent the winter of 1805-6 on its shores, near the outlet; and it is to the extraordinary enterprise of these great men that the public are indebted for nearly all that is known of the country between the state of Missouri and the ocean. A settlement has been made by the fur traders upon the banks of the river, called Astoria, and it is said to be in a flourishing state."