An aerial photograph of destroyed and submerged homes in Vanport City after the Vanport Flood. Addresses can be seen written on roofs, and debris is floating throughout the area. A water tower is at the bottom of the frame (negative 15 of 17).

An aerial photograph of destroyed and submerged homes in Vanport City after the Vanport Flood. Addresses can be seen written on roofs, and debris is floating throughout the area (negative 2 of 17).

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings that were lifted from their foundations by the water are visible among other debris in the lower left corner of the image. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. The interstate bridge and a railroad bridge are visible in the distance. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood with Mount St. Helens visible in the distance. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several flooded buildings and the flooded railway bridge are visible in the image. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings that were lifted from their foundations by the water are visible among other debris in the center of the image. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial photograph of flood waters during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings that were lifted from their foundations by the water are visible floating among other debris in the the image. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

An aerial view of burning buildings at Vanport City. Flames and plumes of smoke can be seen above the buildings, many of which appear to be apartments (negative 1 of 5).

An aerial view of burning buildings at Vanport City. Flames and plumes of smoke can be seen above the buildings, many of which appear to be apartments (negative 4 of 5).

Agnes and Delores Skovgaard standing behind a picket fence in front of their apartment in Vanport, Oregon. They are sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport following the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “My Mother, Netta and Sister, Delores, trying to sort out any savable items from apartment.”

Agnes Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. Caption on the image reads, “My mother sorting through personal items after the flood to see if anything was worth saving. Very little.”

Photograph of several people in a boat next to a flooded apartment building during the Vanport Flood, 1948. One person has their hands on the roof of the building while the others look inside an open window. Several surrounding apartment buildings float in the floodwater after having been lifted from their foundations. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of people in a boat surveying the damage of the Vanport Flood. Behind them, an apartment building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of 4 people in a row boat navigating around debris in the Vanport Flood, 1948. Behind them, an apartment building floats in the floodwater after having been lifted from its foundation. Handwritten note on back reads, "Jerry," indicating this was likely taken by Jerry Jiro Yasutome when he was a student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Photograph of people gathering on a road near an affected area of the Vanport Flood. Two boats are on the road. Behind them, destroyed buildings and debris are visible in the flood water. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Panels from a dismantled apartment building being loaded onto a truck at Vanport City, following the end of World War II. A crane is being used to move the panels onto the back of a truck, where a man can be seen standing. A cropped version of this photograph was published in the Oregon Journal on Sunday, August 25, 1946 (negative 3 of 5).

A teacher plays piano as children circle around a table, at Vanport School. The children are holding small United States flags (negative 1 of 9).

Dale Skovgaard (left) with his friend, Vincent, and dog Max, in front of their apartment building on Island Avenue in Vanport, Oregon.

Unidentified people climbing over piles of debris left behind after the flood waters retreated during the Vanport flood. Several apartment buildings lifted from their foundations by the flood waters are visible in the wreckage.

A photograph depicting damage done by the Vanport flood. Several unidentified people walk across rooftops and piled debris left after flood waters lifted buildings from their foundations. Vanport City, once the second largest city in Oregon, was destroyed by a flood on May 30, 1948 when water breached a nearby section of the dike along the Columbia River. This photograph was part of a series of selected snapshots of "Vanport City, Ore. Destroyed by the Mighty Columbia River," sold as a set after the flood.

A view of damaged apartment buildings in Vanport, Oregon after the water receded from the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “Slough in background. No more bridge from Victory Avenue across Bayou Slough to Island Avenue.”

A view of damaged apartment buildings in Vanport, Oregon after the water receded from the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “Our apartment house.”

A photograph of the field of debris left after the Vanport flood.

Photograph of debris in a shaded area of the Vanport Flood. Handwritten note on back indicates this was taken May 31, 1948. Taken by an unidentified student at the Northwest School of Photography.

Delores Skovgaard sorting through personal items after residents were allowed back into Vanport, Oregon following the Vanport flood. The caption on the photograph reads, “My sister Dee helping.”

People repairing Denver Avenue at the point of a break, during a flooding event in 1948. Workers walk along the road next to a truck, being used to dump materials on top of the road. Flooded buildings and a water tower, likely at Vanport City, can be seen in the distance (negative 2 of 2).