Back in Time: Crescent Bar Through the Years 

Think you know Crescent Bar? Did you realize just how far back its story goes—or that it was shaped by colossal Ice Age floods!  Today, we’re highlighting the interesting evolution of Crescent Bar’s history, which may surprise you. From its geological beginnings to its modern role in local hydropower, this scenic area on the Columbia River has transformed through countless eras.  

And while you’re reading, we invite you to browse the photo gallery included—a collection of snapshots that capture Crescent Bar’s evolution over time. Though not tied to each fact below, these images weave together a visual story of the peninsula’s vibrant past and present. 

Ice Age Floods to Modern Recreation

Geologic and Geographic Origins 

• Geologic Formation: Crescent Bar sits on a basalt peninsula (often mistaken for an “island”) formed by a sharp bend in the Columbia River. The basalt cliffs and river channel here were shaped by the Ice Age floods (commonly called the Missoula Floods), which carved out much of the Columbia Basin between 15,000 and 18,000 years ago. Prior to construction of Wanapum Dam in the early 1960s, the bar was a long crescent shaped formation with a sandy surface created by wind and water erosion at the base of towering basalt cliffs that stretch up from the river to the Quincy Basin. When the Wanapum dam reservoir was first filled in 1963, a large portion of Crescent Bar became an island with a moat of water surrounding it during normal reservoir operations.111 

• Location: About seven miles southwest of Quincy, Washington, Crescent Bar lies within Grant County, along the Columbia River reservoir created by Wanapum Dam—part of Grant PUD’s larger Priest Rapids Project.222 

Early Human Presence

• Indigenous Use: This region has been home to Indigenous Peoples, including the Wanapum Band and other Columbia Plateau tribes, for thousands of years. They relied on the river for fishing, trade, and everyday subsistence.333 

• Homesteading and Farming: By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, non-Indigenous settlers found the fertile banks of the Columbia appealing, even though Crescent Bar’s unique terrain posed irrigation challenges. Nonetheless, small-scale homesteads and livestock operations emerged.444

The Priest Rapids Project and Grant PUD

• Formation of Grant PUD (1938): Local residents voted to establish a Public Utility District in 1938, and over time the utility developed hydroelectric projects on the Columbia River, including Priest Rapids Dam (completed in 1959) and Wanapum Dam (finished in 1963). Grant PUD acquired six parcels of land at Crescent Bar for the Priest Rapids Project.222[5] 

• Federal Licensing Requirements: When Grant PUD secured a federal license for the Priest Rapids Project (FERC Project No. 2114), it also took on the responsibility for public recreation and land management on its lands in the reservoir areas. Crescent Bar, which sits in the Wanapum reservoir, is one of the recreation sites under our stewardship.222[5] 

Development Into a Recreational Hub

• Recreational Leases: During the 1960s and 1970s, with Wanapum Dam stabilizing water levels suitable for boating and water sports, Grant PUD issued approvals that allowed for the development of RV sites, a golf course, and a campground.555 

• Community & Resort Growth: Crescent Bar gained popularity throughout the 1970s into the 2000s, evolving into a beloved seasonal retreat. Vacation rentals, condos, and small businesses catering to boaters and recreation flourished.444 

Grant PUD and Crescent Bar Today

• Land Ownership & Public Access: Under a federal license, Grant PUD maintains this land and prioritizes public recreation. Present-day features include a campground, boat launches, day-use areas, and park facilities.555 

• Infrastructure Improvements: In recent years, Grant PUD has invested in shoreline upgrades, park enhancements, and improved public-access points—striving to balance recreation, environmental stewardship, and hydropower generation.222 

• Continuing Partnership:  Crescent Bar is a collaborative effort with local residents and federal regulators to safeguard the area’s scenic and recreational value for generations to come.555 

Photo Gallery 

Enjoy the collection of photographs that capture recreation at Crescent Bar across the decades. Together they illustrate the story of how this once-rugged peninsula became a vibrant recreational destination. We hope you enjoy this window into the past (and present) of Crescent Bar! The area’s beauty, with the Columbia River at its heart, draws many tourists, and we hope it draws you in for a visit. If you’re looking for a more secluded location to visit along the river, check out our other recreation areas that also give beautiful views on the Columbia River that are slower paced than the “hot spot” that is Crescent Bar.