Oregon Encyclopedia Project
Where did the name Oregon come from?
When did northern Oregon become the State of Washington?
What areas were home to Umatilla, Tenino, Clatskanie, and other indigenous people in Oregon?
When did Mt. Mazama last erupt?
Why and how did Russian immigrants come to Oregon?
What was Vortex?
People interested in Oregon have no single place to look for answers to questions like these—and for thousands upon thousands of additional ones. Only a comprehensive and authoritative Oregon encyclopedia can answer them succinctly and accurately.
Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society have joined forces to create an on-line Oregon Encyclopedia of History and Culture—a free resource for anyone with access to the worldwide web. When the encyclopedia is complete in 2009, it will include:
- Nearly 3,000 entries with over 200 essays on Oregon subjects
- Coverage of significant people, events, places, institutions, and more in Oregon, from 10,000 years ago to the present
- Essays and entries on ethnic groups and communities throughout Oregon's history
- Entries on art, architecture, literature, performing arts, music, and popular culture
- Hundreds of images, documents, and maps
- Essays that add new perspective to issues and events
- Special sections for teachers and students
The Project brings together three senior editors, an experienced editorial staff, and twenty-three specialists from across the state. All entries and essays will be written by knowledgeable authors, reviewed by experts, and authorized by editors and fact-checkers to ensure accuracy. The web site will grow each week until the end of Oregon's sesquicentennial in 2009, providing new entries and resources and describing ways for all Oregonians to contribute.
The Statehood Sesquicentennial edition is only the beginning of The Oregon Encyclopedia. Oregon's history and culture are dynamic, and the encyclopedia is designed to expand and grow after the Sesquicentennial, as new material is developed and new web-based features are created. Through its web site and in communities and classrooms across the state, The Oregon Encyclopedia will be the authoritative and creative resource on all things Oregon—a substantive and lasting recognition of the state's sesquicentennial.