Sam Hill, the famous road builder and founder of Maryhill Museum, once referred to Klickitat County as the place where "the sunshine meets the rain." Klickitat County is a transition zone between the maritime climate of the Pacific Ocean and the arid interior plateau of eastern Washington. This and elevation variation caused by the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountain Range and the Columbia River Gorge, have created a wide variety of landscapes. This influences the character of the communities found throughout Klickitat County.