Famous Faces

Elvis Presley

On his way from Los Angeles to Seattle for the 1962 World’s Fair, Elvis stayed in Kalama for a night at the old Columbia Inn Motel. The star was in town for less than 24 hours, but word about his stay drew a crowd of people from across the area to see “The King” in his heyday.

Marlon Brando

The infamous Hollywood star paid many visits to the small town of Kalama, finding it a place of refuge from the spotlight for him and his family. Brando’s eldest lived in Kalama off and on over the course of a decade, and it was downtown where the father and son would share simple moments.

Christian Brando

The eldest son of actor Marlon Brando, Christian, faded in and out of the public eye over the course of his 50 years. Connected to the area by a close family friend, Christian purchased a home on the outskirts of Kalama and became a local in the town, finding peace from Hollywood. Christian is buried on the bluff at the Kalama Cemetery.

Jack Benny

Vaudeville, violin, radio, and television, Jack Benny had many reasons to be traveling across the country, and perhaps only one reason to stop in Kalama, a telephone. Benny stayed for a quick bite before heading back on the road, but his stop earned a portrait of his face on the side of the Columbia Inn Restaurant in downtown.

Teddy Roosevelt

An auspicious visitor who arrived in Kalama immediately saw the potential of the region back in 1903. President Teddy Roosevelt made a “whistle stop” speech at the current site of the Port of Kalama during his eight-week tour of the West. Roosevelt foresaw the future of the area, noting the prospective industrial growth.

Wiliam Howard Taft

Following his predecessors’ footsteps, or rather his train itinerary, President Taft made a few quick stops along the Columbia River between 1909 and 1911. The people of Washington were shocked and thrilled to have presidential visits to the area in back-to-back terms.

Rainn Wilson

Dwight Schrute does get out of The Office from time to time; in fact, he has visited Kalama many times over the years. Wilson and his wife have family ties to the Pacific Northwest and chose to get married on the banks of the Kalama River in the nineties, after her parents moved here.

Robert Pattinson “Edward Cullen”

The mysterious and brooding vampire from the Twilight series, Pattinson, captured the hearts of “Twi-Hards” of all ages. Having starred in the Harry Potter franchise, Pattinson had notoriety, but the famous “parking lot” scene shot the actor into stardom.

Kristen Stewart “Bella Swan”

Allured by mystery, Bella Swan finds herself in the middle of the fantasy rivalry between Vampires and Werewolves. The star of the series, Stewart’s role as “Bella” launched her into the spotlight as the protagonist of the franchise. Love or hate her, all the girls at Kalama High School wanted to be her.

Taylor Lautner “Jacob Black”

Alpha werewolf and protector of his pack, Jacob Black, is a sworn enemy of the Cullen vampires. Outside of child acting, Lautner’s role in Twilight made him the heartthrob of the 2010s. While only in Kalama for a short amount of time, he still got everyone asking, Are you team Edward or Jacob?

John Kalama

The man for whom the town was named, John Kalama, a Hawaiian born in Kula, Maui, in 1811, worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company in the Northwest during the 1830s. He frequently traveled between Fort Nisqually, Fort Vancouver, and Cowlitz Farm, earning respect for his work ethic and skills. He married Mary Martin, daughter of Chief Martin of the Nisqually Tribe, and they had one child, Peter Kalama.

Peter Kalama

The only son of John Kalama, Peter Kalama, maintained the family roots in the Kalama River Valley. A native activist and organizer, Peter was the Nisqually chief and advocated for indigenous claims to their tribal lands. Peter had more than a dozen children who still reside in the area and are now members of many tribes of the Pacific Northwest.

Ezra Meeker

Pioneer of the Northwest, Meeker and his extended family traversed the Oregon Trail for a new life and land opportunities in Oregon Country. Once arrived, they settled on the banks of the Columbia River and filed the first “Kalama Proper” Donation Land Claim. The site of the original Meeker cabin is still marked in downtown Kalama.

Hite Imus

Mayor, County Clerk, Prosecuting Attorney, Land Office Manager, Journalist, and the list goes on. These are all positions Imus held after Kalama’s incorporation in 1890, following statehood. Along with being one of the driving forces behind Kalama’s success, Imus also founded, owned, and wrote the editorial page for the Kalama Bulletin for 40 years.

Abe Moawad

This Kalama local is best known for always having the right tool to fix the town, as long as he had it in stock. Moawad was the owner and operator of Kalama Hometown Hardware in downtown Kalama for decades. When not serving his community from behind a register, Moawad was an early member of the Kalama Lions Club, offering charitable work to the community. Best known as the “Master of Ceremonies” at the Lions Club, Moawad was a cheerful character who wanted to see the community sing its success.

Elias Carlson

In 20 short years, Carlson accomplished the work of a man who would be attributed a lifetime. From establishing himself early on as a successful fish dealer, to building, owning, and leading one of the most popular Opera Houses between Seattle and Portland, and finishing out his time as an entrepreneur in the logging industry. Carlson was regarded as a true “Jack of All Trades.”

Virgil Simmons

A Mentor for a generation of Kalama men, Simmons dedicated decades of time to Kalama High School students and athletes during the 1940s and 50’s. Simmons coached the men’s basketball team to four state playoff games from 1948-1952, winning the State Championship in 1950 and 1952.

Shirley Lowman

A true set of “Helping Hands” in the community, Shirley dedicated her time to improving the Kalama way of life. Leading the way for volunteers on more than a dozen community projects and providing leadership to the local non-profit AMALAK for decades, Shirley changed Kalama for the better.

Joanna Boatman

A leader at heart, Joanna knew she would make history in Kalama from the beginning. A heart dedicated to healing and a deep sense of civic responsibility; Joanna elected herself as the town nurse to provide healthcare services to the rural town. And when that wasn’t enough, she became the city’s first female Mayor.