 The Stevenson family, who settled in the Gorge in the 1800s from Missouri, founded the town of Stevenson on the old Shepard donation land claim.Under the auspices of the Stevenson Land Company, George Stevenson purchased the original town site for $24,000 in 1893, building the town along the lower flat near the river.Settlers expanded the original dock to serve the daily arrivals of sternwheelers unloading passengers, cargo and loading logs.