Camp Withycombe facts for kids
Camp Withycombe is a military base located in Clackamas County, Oregon, in the United States. It was first called Camp Benson, named after Governor Frank W. Benson. Later, during World War I, it was renamed Camp Withycombe, honoring Governor James Withycombe.
The camp started as the Clackamas Rifle Range in 1909. It grew into a training camp and became a main base for the National Guard. It also served as a major supply and training center. A photographer named Walter S. Bowman took pictures of Camp Benson in the early 1900s.
In the 1930s, the camp became a place to store military supplies. Some buildings, like the house for the Adjutant General (a high-ranking military officer), were built in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression.
Today, Camp Withycombe is still used for training, storing supplies, and fixing equipment for the National Guard. However, the rifle range is no longer open.
What is Camp Withycombe?
Camp Withycombe is state-owned land managed by the Oregon Military Department (OMD). It is home to several military units from the Oregon Army National Guard (ORARNG). These units follow rules from both federal and state military leaders.
The camp covers more than 77 acres and is located near Mount Talbert, southeast of Portland. It has old military buildings and an armory, which is a place where military units train and store weapons, that has been there since 1956. The camp also handles maintenance, supplies, and storage for military missions across Oregon. The armory is being updated to house the main office for the 41st Brigade and other military groups.
History of the Camp
Throughout its history, Camp Withycombe has been a rifle range, a place for soldiers to get ready for duty, and a supply depot. Many different groups have been involved in owning and managing it.
The camp began as the Clackamas Firing Range in 1910, covering 100 acres. By 1915, the federal government bought more land, making the camp 234 acres. In 1934, its role as a military supply center grew. The Clackamas Firing Range was then officially named Camp Withycombe, after former Oregon governor James Withycombe.
Camp Withycombe was a key location for the Oregon Army National Guard to prepare for federal service during World War I and World War II. During World War II, it was used as a U.S. Army barracks. Its firing ranges were heavily used by the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), police, and even civilians. Besides training, Camp Withycombe also served as a major supply depot. In 1949, more buildings were added to support its role in managing military supplies.
Oregon Military Museum
Camp Withycombe is the new home for the Oregon Military Museum. The museum is currently being built and expanded. It is part of the Army Museum System. The museum used to be in Canby, but it closed in 2008 to move to Camp Withycombe. The new museum is officially named the Brig. Gen. James B. Thayer Military Museum, in honor of James B. Thayer.
