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McMenamins and Deschutes Historical Museum present History Pub
The Deschutes River: A History
Presented by Glen Voeltz
McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Father Luke’s Room
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
7pm/doors 6pm
$5
All ages
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.
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.
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Event venue
McMenamins Old St. Francis School, 700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97703-2702, United States
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