Washington County Museum
Encyclopedia
Washington County Museum is a history museum
located in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon
, United States
at Portland Community College
's Rock Creek Campus. Opened in 1975, the museum is operated by the Washington County Historical Society with a mission of preserving the history of the area. Exhibits include the original Washington County Jail
built in 1853.
In 1962, the society looked at using Shute Park as a possible home for their museum, which was not built at that time or at that location. However, the society temporarily moved their collections to the park's pavilion that year. Then in 1975 the county decided to start a formal history
museum. From 1975 to 1987, Washington County owned and operated the museum. During that time the museum was in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon
, at the Heidel Home.
In 1982 a new museum was built at the Portland Community College campus at Rock Creek, and it opened in January 1983. Then in September 1987 the Washington County Historical Society took over operations at the museum. In 2007, the museum began a $1.7 million expansion of the facility to more than double the size of the museum. The museums annual fundraiser featured Oregon State Beavers
basketball coach Craig Robinson as the master of ceremonies in 2009 and raised around $90,000 for the museum.
and receives another 500 pieces each year. The museum operates a small store in the lobby selling books about local history. There is also a research library with over 25,000 images, more than 1,400 maps, and over 500 books along with other historical records and newspapers.
One exhibit at the museum is the original Washington County Jail
built in 1853. This structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
from 1986 until 2008. Previously located at the county fairgrounds, the structure was rehabilitated and moved to the museum in 2004. The 10 feet (3 m) by 16 feet (4.9 m) jail
house is was originally located inside the museum, but was moved outside when the museum was expanded in 2007.
Other artifacts in the collections range from everyday items such as sewing machine
s, to a wedding dress of a local prominent family. The museum's other exhibits include This Kalapuya Land that focuses on the Native Americans of the area, Washington County in a Nutshell that features artifacts from throughout the county's history, and a changing exhibit along with visiting collections. Visiting exhibits have included Oregon is Indian Country from the Oregon Historical Society
, among others. Also, the museum partners with Print Arts Northwest to convert the lobby into an art gallery each month.
Formerly, the museum hosted an annual plowing event named the Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition to demonstrate farming before mechanized agriculture
. However, the event has moved to Champoeg State Park. Washington County Museum also educates the local community on the history of the county including use of a mobile museum.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at Portland Community College
Portland Community College
Portland Community College is Oregon's largest community college, located in Portland, United States. It serves over one million residents in the five county area of Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia...
's Rock Creek Campus. Opened in 1975, the museum is operated by the Washington County Historical Society with a mission of preserving the history of the area. Exhibits include the original Washington County Jail
Washington County Jail (Oregon)
The Washington County Jail is a log, one-room jail previously used in Oregon. It was built in 1853 and was used until 1870. In 1986, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and is preserved by the Washington County Museum in Washington County, Oregon, United States and is...
built in 1853.
History
In the 1930s, local historian Albert E. Tozier donated his collection of artifacts, books, maps, and other items to the county historical society. Beginning in 1939, the artifacts were displayed at Hillsboro's Carnegie Library. In 1956, the Washington County Historical Society was incorporated.In 1962, the society looked at using Shute Park as a possible home for their museum, which was not built at that time or at that location. However, the society temporarily moved their collections to the park's pavilion that year. Then in 1975 the county decided to start a formal history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
museum. From 1975 to 1987, Washington County owned and operated the museum. During that time the museum was in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, at the Heidel Home.
In 1982 a new museum was built at the Portland Community College campus at Rock Creek, and it opened in January 1983. Then in September 1987 the Washington County Historical Society took over operations at the museum. In 2007, the museum began a $1.7 million expansion of the facility to more than double the size of the museum. The museums annual fundraiser featured Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
basketball coach Craig Robinson as the master of ceremonies in 2009 and raised around $90,000 for the museum.
Details
The museum received 5,000 visitors annually at the old 5000 square feet (464.5 m²) facility. The renovated building now attracts nearly 1,700 as of 2008, and has a membership of 314 as of October 2009. Washington County Museum houses approximately 40,000 artifactsArtifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
and receives another 500 pieces each year. The museum operates a small store in the lobby selling books about local history. There is also a research library with over 25,000 images, more than 1,400 maps, and over 500 books along with other historical records and newspapers.
Collections, exhibits, programs
Washington County Jail (Oregon)
The Washington County Jail is a log, one-room jail previously used in Oregon. It was built in 1853 and was used until 1870. In 1986, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and is preserved by the Washington County Museum in Washington County, Oregon, United States and is...
built in 1853. This structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
from 1986 until 2008. Previously located at the county fairgrounds, the structure was rehabilitated and moved to the museum in 2004. The 10 feet (3 m) by 16 feet (4.9 m) jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
house is was originally located inside the museum, but was moved outside when the museum was expanded in 2007.
Other artifacts in the collections range from everyday items such as sewing machine
Sewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
s, to a wedding dress of a local prominent family. The museum's other exhibits include This Kalapuya Land that focuses on the Native Americans of the area, Washington County in a Nutshell that features artifacts from throughout the county's history, and a changing exhibit along with visiting collections. Visiting exhibits have included Oregon is Indian Country from the Oregon Historical Society
Oregon Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society is an organization that encourages and promotes the study and understanding of the history of the Oregon Country, within the broader context of U.S. history. Incorporated in 1898, the Society collects, preserves, and makes available materials of historical character...
, among others. Also, the museum partners with Print Arts Northwest to convert the lobby into an art gallery each month.
Formerly, the museum hosted an annual plowing event named the Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition to demonstrate farming before mechanized agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. However, the event has moved to Champoeg State Park. Washington County Museum also educates the local community on the history of the county including use of a mobile museum.
External links
- Museum event to showcase 'Heart of Washington County' - The Hillsboro Argus
- Discover America listing