Historic Oregon City

Posted on: March 23, 2007

Historic Oregon City is the place to discover the unexpected! The heritage of Oregon and the West is all around. Whether you walk the McLoughlin Promenade, ride the Municipal Elevator, or find a special place to browse for antiques, buy a doughnut or have a microbrew, there are things to see and do before or after your museum visit.

The Oregon City Carnegie Center was built in 1912 as a public library, funded in part by a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. This beloved building was in continuous use as a library until 1995, and now is operated by Oregon City Parks and Recreation. The Carnegie Center, referred to as “Oregon City’s Living Room,” now houses a coffee shop, art gallery and a children’s museum. Tuesday & Wednesday 12 noon – 8PM, Thursday 2PM – 7PM, Friday 11AM – 7PM, Saturday 9AM – 1PM. and is located in the Historic McLoughlin neighborhood, within walking distance of many of Oregon City’s historic landmarks.

Philip Foster Farm allows you to step back in time and explore this pioneer site on the Barlow Road, the “last leg” of the Oregon Trail. See why emigrants called Foster’s Place “paradise at last” after their 2,000 mile trek. At Foster’s pioneers finally found real civilization: gardens, orchards, provisions at the store, fresh vegetables and fruit, pastures for their stock, a blacksmith, camping sites, home-cooked meals, and even cabins to rent.The authentic site, less than an hour from Portland, Oregon, features original 19th Century houses and barn, covered wagons, replica blacksmith shop and store, and heritage gardens.

The Museum of the Oregon Territory, which overlooks Willamette Falls and the Willamette River, has extensive exhibits of Clackamas county history documented in photographs and artifacts. Displays follow a time line from Indian times through fur traders, pioneers and merchants. Additional exhibits include one on America’s first long distance electric transmission, which was from Willamette Falls, and an immigrant wagon fully loaded for the Oregon Trail.

The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located on Abernethy Green, at a site often identified as the end of the Barlow Road portion of the Oregon Trail. Visitors are guided by a living history interpreter, who brings alive the journey from Missouri to Oregon through dramatization and story telling. Things to see include artifacts from pioneer days, a video presentation, and a gift shop.

The Stevens Crawford House is located in a 1908 classical Foursquare style house. It was owned by the original family until 1968 and much of the period furniture is still kept in the house. There are 15 furnished rooms, including a working kitchen, living room, bedrooms, dining room and a doll collection. There is also a museum area which features displays of souvenir plates, children’s toys and Indian baskets.

A map of historic locations can be viewed and printed and then later followed at your leisure.

Article posted by Terri Lejeune, Office Manager portlandrealestate.com