The October 12, 1962 Columbus Day Storm brought widespread devastation to the Pacific Northwest. Wind gusts reached 116 miles per hour in Portland, 127 miles per hour in Corvallis, and in excess of 145 miles per hour on the Oregon coast. Nearly 50 fatalities were attributed to the storm, more than any other Pacific Northwest weather event in history. The storm forced portions of Oregon to rebuild their power systems from the ground up; some locations went without power for several weeks.

This fall, the Oregon Historical Society will open “The Mightiest Wind,” presented by Portland General Electric, with guest curator KGW Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino.

“Countless Oregonians over the age of 50 remembers where they were when the Columbus Day Storm hit,” says OHS Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk. “Though the storm caused extensive destruction to the Pacific Northwest, it also brought communities together as neighbors shared the few resources they had with each other during the repowering process.”

When visitors enter the exhibit, they will be transported back in time to 1962. Inside the exhibit, large scale artifacts will recreate the destruction caused by the storm. Step into a wind machine to experience the wind gusts Oregonians would have felt 50 years ago during the storm’s peak. Kids and adults alike will enjoy playing meteorologist for a day, as Matt Zaffino instructs visitors how to tell the weather with the exhibit’s green screen. The exhibit will also feature photographs, film footage, and oral histories from the many Oregonians who still remember the event.

The Oregon History Museum at the Oregon Historical Society is located at 1200 SW Park Avenue in downtown Portland. Museum hours are Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visitor information and a list of current exhibits can be found at ohs.org.