Oregon Historical Society Museum facts for kids
Museum entrance in 2019
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| Established | 1898 |
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| Location | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Type | private: history |
| Visitors | 44,000 (est. 2010) |
The Oregon Historical Society Museum is a cool place in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. It's a history museum that teaches you all about Oregon's past. The museum first opened its doors in 1898. Each year, about 44,000 people visit to explore its amazing collections.
One of the most famous items here is the Portland Penny. This special copper coin from 1835 helped decide the name of Portland! The museum has over 85,000 items that tell Oregon's story. It's also officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Journey
The Oregon Historical Society runs this museum. It started small in the late 1800s. Its first home was inside Portland City Hall. In 1913, the museum moved to the Tourny Building. Then, in 1917, it moved again to the Public Auditorium. This building is now known as the Keller Auditorium.
In 1966, the museum found its current home. It's located on the South Park Blocks at 1200 SW Park Avenue. The Society used to own a whole city block. However, they sold part of it in 2014. This included the Sovereign Hotel building.
A huge two-part painting called Oregon History is on the side of this building. Richard Haas painted this amazing mural. One part of the mural shows the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. When the building was sold, it was agreed that both the building and the mural would be protected.
The museum's main entrance area was updated in 2002 and 2003. This renovation cost about $3.75 million. In 2002, nearly 27,000 visitors came to the museum. For many years, the museum received money from the state and Multnomah County. This funding stopped in 2003.
Later, in 2007, the state government gave the society $625,000. Then, from 2009 to 2011, they received $2.5 million more. Voters in Multnomah County later approved a plan to help fund the museum. Because of this, county residents can now visit for free! By 2010, about 44,000 people visited the museum each year.
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The museum has more than 85,000 items in its collections. These items help tell the story of Oregon's history. One special item is the Portland Penny. This coin helped name the city of Portland. You can also see Captain Robert Gray's storage chest. He used it on his ship, the Columbia Rediviva.
Other cool things include a 10,000-year-old sandal! There are also items from the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. You can find many Native American artifacts too. The museum also has a collection of miniature vehicles. Plus, there are everyday items like old jars and dresses.
Amazing Exhibits to See
The museum has a permanent exhibit called "Oregon My Oregon." This huge display covers 7,000 square feet. It shows Oregon's history from early times to today. You can see a copy of a ship's hull. There's also a 1940s-style general store. A complete lunch counter from an old diner is also on display. And don't forget the 9,000-year-old sandal!
The lunch counter display won a special award in 2005. It was recognized for showing "Modern Oregon Issues." The museum also hosts special traveling exhibits. In 2005, there was an exhibit celebrating 200 years since the Lewis & Clark Expedition. In 2001, they showed historic Native American trade blankets. These blankets were from the collection of Dale Chihuly. Sometimes, there are also traveling exhibits with old photographs.
More to Discover at the Society
The Oregon Historical Society also has a research library. This library holds many old books and documents. It also has a large collection of historic photographs. You can visit the museum store too. It sells books and cool history souvenirs. The museum is officially recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.
See also
