The ferry boat M.R. Chessman made the final Astoria-Megler run across the Columbia River on July 28, 1966 (The Oregonian, 29-July-1966).
Hundreds of nostalgic ferry riders left the Astoria dock at 9 p.m. Thursday to crossover the 4 1/2 miles of river, returning from Megler at 10:30 p.m. Dozens of present and former crewmen who have worked in the ferry service here over the last five decades were aboard.
Though the Astoria-Megler Bridge did not officially open until August 27, the bridge opened to automobile traffic at 6am on July 29, relieving the ferry boats of their duty.
