Protecting Our State's Cultural Legacy

History shapes people’s understanding of who they are as individuals and as members of a civilization. The Oregon Historical Society is a scholarly asset and a public resource dedicated to putting the power of history into everyone’s hands and to advancing knowledge in all corners of the world.

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ExhibitsView All

She Flies with Her Own Wings: Oregon’s Golden Age of Aviation

Known as Oregon’s “golden age of aviation,” the 1930s ushered in faster and more affordable aircraft, offering new career opportunities for men and women. In “She Flies with Her Own Wings,” discover how the wonder of flight sparked...

March 7 – November 30, 2025

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Colegio César Chávez: The Legacy Lives On / El legado sigue vivo

This bilingual exhibition highlights the establishment, significance, and legacy of Colegio César Chávez, the first independent, four-year accredited Chicano/a college in the United States.

January 10 – April 27, 2025

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Migrant Labor Families in the 1960s: Portraits from the Valley Migrant League Photographs

Experiences of migrant labor families working in the Willamette Valley during the 1960s are documented in this photographic exhibit. Captured by volunteers and staff for the Valley Migrant League’s newspaper, “Opportunity News,” the images...

January 29, 2024 – March 30, 2025

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A Fountain of Creativity: Oregon’s 20th Century Artists and the Legacy of Arlene Schnitzer

This series of three original exhibitions, two on view at OHS, highlight influential works by Pacific Northwest artists from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. Featuring notable artists such as Louis Bunce,...

June 28, 2024 – May 4, 2025

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A Changing Landscape

One hundred years after an expedition to map what would become the Oregon Skyline Trail between Crater Lake and the Columbia River Highway, geologist Jim O’Connor recreated 75 of the expedition’s original photographs. The new and historic...

February 21 – November 23, 2025

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Revisiting Rajneeshpuram 40 Years Later: The Untold Story

Join Sarito Carroll in conversation with KGW’s Laural Porter as she discusses her memoir, “In the Shadow...


Oregon Historical Society

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March 1910 St. Johns “Anti-Hindu” Riot: Its Global Whys and Impact

Oregon is commonly perceived to have little South Asian history, yet, in the early 1900s, Oregon was at...


McMenamins Kennedy School

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A Willow Tree Becomes a Forest: The Story of Hop Lee in Salem, Oregon

Join us for a special multimedia presentation by Dr. Russell N. Low celebrating Oregon’s early Chinese...


Oregon Historical Society

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Introduction to OHS Traveling Trunks Workshop

Educators are invited to learn about OHS’s Traveling Trunk Program, which give students a tactile,...


Oregon Historical Society

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Portland Premiere of the 2025–2026 Oregon Blue Book

Every odd-numbered year since 1911, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office has published the “Oregon Blue...


Oregon Historical Society

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Oregon Historical Quarterly covers

Oregon Historical Quarterly

The Journal of Record for Oregon History

The Oregon Historical Quarterly publishes well-researched, well-written history about Oregon and the Pacific Northwest and is enjoyed by scholars and general readers.

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Library

Research and Library

The Oregon Historical Society’s research library is an invaluable resource for learning about the past and providing context on the present. Visitors can enjoy broad access to the world’s largest collection of Oregon-related materials, both in the library’s newly renovated...

Digital History

Digital History Projects

The Oregon Historical Society’s Digital History Projects provide authoritative and comprehensive resources on Oregon’s history and culture. Visit OHS’s four digital history websites to browse encyclopedia entries, interactive maps and timelines, and materials from OHS’s...

From the OHS Blog

Volunteer Educators: Sparking Curiosity and Fostering Belonging Through Meaningful Tours

OHS’s volunteer educators are passionate about learning Oregon history and guiding students through our...

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Tickets on sale now!

Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series

For over 25 years, the Oregon Historical Society’s Mark O. Hatfield Lecture Series has hosted the...


Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

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