Museums/History

The Dr. John McLoughlin House

William L. Holmes House

The William L. Holmes House is one of the oldest American homes in Oregon. Joseph Lane gave his inaugural address from its balcony. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm-4pm. 536 Holmes Lane, Oregon City. 503.656.5146.

14th Street Ferry Dock in Astoria

There are a lot of really interesting and fun things to do in Astoria, Oregon. But to be honest, one of my favorite parts of visiting this north coast city is to see the huge freighters sail by in the background.

Seeing something so big, so close to land and setting a moving backdrop makes Astoria a place where I can sit and watch these huge ships sail down the Columbia River to either Portland, or out to the Pacific Ocean.

Antique Powerland

Antique Powerland Museum is a consortium of more than 15 museums and groups on a 62 acre site south of Portland along Interstate 5 that are focused on the history of industry and horsepower. It is known for its annual “Steam-Up” event that occurs each summer. Each of the museums in the group is in charge of building and manning their own sites, and the entire operation is done with volunteer labor.

Astoria Column

Astoria Column offers panoramic views of nature and history

Standing in the grass at the Astoria Column, make sure you watch out for low-flying aircraft. Made of balsawood.

It's a tradition that has been going on at the column for years. Visitors buy small balsawood planes at the gift shop, climb to the top of the 125-foot column and launch them into the air. Shouts and laughter of children seeing how far and fast the planes will fly through the air much like the small planes.

At the end of the Oregon Trail

An introduction to Clackamas History


ON THE OREGON TRAIL through the Blue Mountains just east of the Umatilla River:

"While on the summit of the last mountain we got the first view of the Cascade Mountains west of us, while Mount Hood reared its snow crowned summit in awful grandeur."Abigail Jane Scott 1852

Baker Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

James and Elizabeth Baker were among the first Oregon Trail emigrants to settle in Easter Oregon. They traveled from Iowa in 1862 and were one of the original five families to settle in what is now the City of La Grande.

La Grande was a tree-less grassland when they arrived. James Baker was known as a horticulturist and planted many of the first trees in the community.

Baker Cabin

Oregon is filled with amazing views, incredible natural wonders, abundant wildlife and a rich history, and the epicenter of that history is Clackamas County.

Just minutes from downtown Portland, Clackamas County has the birthplace of Oregon, Oregon City, where settlers would stop and file land claims or trade and start business.

Baker City Historic Walk

Despite being a town of just over 10,000 residents, Baker City feels significantly larger – an if you look into its history, you can understand why.

In 1861, a man named Henry Griffin found gold near the Powder River, suddenly the area was the epicenter of a gold rush. The rush led to the towns of Sumpter, Bourne and Auburn, and within 20 years, Baker City developed into the center of it all.

Between gold and timber, Baker City had hotels, an opera house, a Carnegie Library and grew into the largest city between Salt Lake City and Portland.

Baker/Russell Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)

Andrew J. Baker, who arrived in the Oregon Territory in 1843 as part of the Great Migration, planted the black walnut in 1870 next to his house, built in 1852. The house, which still stands at this site, was used as a stage coach stop in the late 1800s. The property was purchased in 1899 by William S. Russell and is still owned by Russell's heirs.

The tree is located on private property seven miles west of McMinnville at 17676 SW Oldsville Road. It can be viewed from Oldsville Road.

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