The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.
-Isaac Asimov

Long before Lewis and Clark spent the night near the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in March 1806, the area's rich resources sustained large communities of people. Today, Maya Lin plans a site that looks forward, leading visitors to consider how future generations will experience the Columbia River Basin's ecology, cultures and history. The 5,217-acre refuge, home to one of North America's primary reserves for migrating waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway, offers a rich ecological and historical perspective on the surrounding area. Visitors can view fertile wetlands and explore artifacts and a replica of a plankhouse from the Cathlapotle townsite, an ancient community Lewis and Clark discovered in 1806.

In collaboration with Washington State University and the Port of Ridgefield, May Lin is designing an environmental research center that integrates the green building practices and embodies Confluence Project's vision of preserving natural resources for future generations.

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