11 Towns in Oregon With Rich History
Oregon, commonly known as the Beaver State, was established as the 33rd state on February 14th in the year 1859. Now, over 150 years later, the entire state is home to great historical attractions. These attractions include a vast array of knowledge from the past. From Astoria to Coos Bay, from McMinnville to Florence, these eleven towns are some of the historical havens across Oregon, providing a wealth of culture as seen in the heritage of those living there.
Astoria
The town of Astoria, with about ten thousand permanent residents, is regularly referred to as the oldest town in the whole state of Oregon. This picturesque town possesses a rich streak of historical stability and resourcefulness. Several establishments and historic sites in Astoria provide current generations with a taste of what has happened in the past, such as the Astoria Column, Fort Clatsop, and Fort Stevens. The column is a monument to the history and people of the Pacific Northwest. The two forts are monuments to the history of Lewis & Clark, bringing comprehension of what the past still means to the present. Fort Clatsop National Memorial served as a winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery in the early 1800s, while Fort Stevens State Park was utilized by U.S. military forces for 84 years, from the Civil War to World War II.
Florence
Positioned along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, between Newport and Coos Bay, the town of Florence has a variety of natural and historical attractions relatively nearby. The Heceta Head Lighthouse, situated on the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint twelve miles north of town, is named after a Spanish explorer who first surveyed the Oregon coast in the year 1775. There are also a variety of historical attractions in downtown Florence. The Siuslaw Pioneer Museum and the Oregon Coast Military Museum are both in town. While the military museum educates visitors on the military units of the past, the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum showcases tools and objects that were commonly used in 18th and 19th-century pioneer living.
McMinnville
The town of McMinnville, southwest of Portland and northwest of Salem, in Yamhill County, is home to a variety of different historical attractions and attributes. The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum on Captain Michael King Smith Way has exhibits in aviation like the Spruce Goose, the world’s largest wooden aircraft, and the SR 71 – Blackbird, one of the fastest jet aircraft in the world. McMinnville is also historically known for its downtown, as it has several architectural establishments, including the Wright Building, which was built in 1893. On the lighter side, the Sage Restaurant, one of several dining choices in McMinnville, was first opened in 1976 and is still open.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove is twenty miles south of Eugene in Lane County. It is known for its historical sites and attractions, like the Chambers Railroad Covered Bridge, which was constructed in 1925 and is now believed to be the only covered railroad bridge west of the Mississippi River. Cottage Grove has a great historic downtown district as well. Most of Main Street is lined with architectural wonders, with an extensive collection of early twentieth-century buildings. Cottage Grove also has several museums in town, including the Cottage Grove Museum, the Oregon Aviation Historical Society, and the Bohemia Gold Mining Museum.
Coos Bay
The town of Coos Bay, situated toward the lower end of Oregon’s roughly 360-mile coastline, is home to several historic landmarks. The Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery, which was established at the end of the 19th century, and the McCullough Memorial Bridge are both located in the area. The bridge was previously named the Coos Bay Bridge from 1936 to 1947. In 1947, it was renamed the McCullough Memorial Bridge in honor of the bridge's engineer, Conde B. McCullough. Coos Bay is also home to the Oregon Coast Historical Railway Museum, which showcases a 1922 Baldwin Steam Locomotive. Another educational attraction is the Coos History Museum, which has an extensive collection depicting the cultural history of south coastal Oregon and the Coos region, including more than 50,000 objects.
Sisters
The town of Sisters, located in Deschutes County, is home to the Three Sisters Historical Society & Museum, which showcases the town's history and hosts events such as historic walking tours. Sisters’ downtown is also well known for having several buildings with facades from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Along with malls and shops, restaurants and delicatessens, and hotels and bed & breakfast inns, this town displays an adept historical background through naturalistic facets, like the McKenzie Pass – Santiam Pass Scenic Byway, which is an eighty-two-mile-long scenic drive that became a national scenic byway in 1998.
Shaniko
The town of Shaniko, hidden in the northern part of Oregon, is known best for being one of several ghost towns in the state. Though it currently has very few permanent residents now, a total of 30 or so people, this ghost town used to be considered a popular hub back in the early twentieth century, first for the production of wool and then for the railroad. Then, in 1966, the town was cut off from the rest of the world. Even now, though, visitors can experience the historical ambiance of the town through several sites, such as the Shaniko Hotel, the Shaniko Museum, and the Shaniko Schoolhouse.
Tillamook
Located on the Pacific Coast, near Tillamook Bay, the town of Tillamook is best known for the Cape Meares Lighthouse, Cape Lookout State Park, and Bayocean Peninsula County Park. As for historical influences, Tillamook is home to the Tillamook Air Museum, which is located in a former U.S. Navy Air Station and housed in a World War II Blimp Hangar. The museum features rare aviation artifacts and restored vintage aircraft. Additionally, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum showcases Tillamook County history and features 19 exhibit areas, including artifacts and replica rooms that date back to the very first settlers.
Oregon City
Oregon City, situated in Clackamas County, just south of the city of Portland, is clearly known for its historical background. The Museum of the Oregon Territory showcases and preserves the history of Clackamas County. The Oregon City Municipal Elevator, completed in 1915 and redesigned in 1955, transports travelers from downtown Oregon City over the expanse of the Willamette River to the top of the bluff and back. For those who prefer historical significance that overlaps with beautiful views of nature, the town of Oregon City is also home to the McLoughlin House and the McLoughlin Promenade. The promenade, which was originally constructed around 1937, has excellent ocean views while the house, constructed in the mid-eighteen hundreds, provides historical reference to Dr. John McLoughlin and Oregon City.
Hood River
The quaint town of Hood River, situated on the Columbia River between Stevenson and The Dalles, has a plethora of natural and historical attractions that will appease anyone’s palette. Hood River hosts the base camp of the Columbia River Gorge, a canyon that stretches 85 miles through the Cascade Mountain Range. A 45-minute drive from Hood River is Mount Hood, the tallest mountain in the state of Oregon. Downtown Hood River is also home to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, known affectionately as the WAAAM, which showcases one of the largest collections of still-flying antique airplanes and still-driving antique automobiles in all of America. An additional historic attraction worth visiting is the mile-long Hood River Bridge, which was built in 1924.
Silverton
Located between Portland and Eugene in Marion County, the town of Silverton is a haven for adventure, historical references, and outdoor excitement. Possessing a rich heritage through varied venues and arenas like the Oregon Garden and the Gordon House, Silverton is also home to the Silverton Mural Society. The Oregon Garden has over twenty specialty gardens, covering eighty acres of land. Meanwhile, the Gordon House showcases the only Frank Lloyd Wright design in the state of Oregon and provides guided tours. The murals in Silverton showcase the history of the Silverton area through a variety of murals, including Bobbie the Wonder Dog - a Scotch Collie from the 1920s, a mural of the mammoth camera from 1992, and the Veteran’s Poem painted in 2013.
There are just under three hundred towns and cities in the entire state of Oregon. Many of these towns and cities possess a rich history of what occurred in the 20th and 19th centuries. From the monumental Astoria Column to the quaint Silverton Mural Society, Oregon has so many great experiences to offer. These eleven towns showcase a fascinating historical tapestry that speaks to the many narratives that have shaped Oregon.
