Euro-American settlers in the Willamette Valley of the 1830s and 1840s had no instructions to follow in selecting their farmland. They observed that prairie lands …

Oregon History Project

The map above shows the surveyed portion of the Oregon Territory as of October 21, 1852. It was prepared by John B. Preston, first surveyor …

Oregon History Project

The first Euro-American immigrants to central Oregon were livestock ranchers, but they practiced subsistence farming. They watered their garden plots with the domestic water supply. …

Oregon History Project

Susan Castillo was the first Latina elected to the Oregon State Legislature and the first to hold statewide elected office as superintendent of public instruction. …

Oregon Encyclopedia

Swan Island sits about eight miles above the mouth of the Willamette River. The island has played a significant role in the development of …

Oregon Encyclopedia

The Swedes were at one time one of the largest immigrant groups in Oregon. Between 1850 and 1940, only Canada and Germany had more immigrants …

Oregon Encyclopedia

This unidentified photograph of Swedish “tatters” was taken by Revell Carr on June 30, 1998.  Scandinavian in origin, tatting evolved from knotting or tying rags together …

Oregon History Project

James Benton has been a singer of jazz, blues, and R&B; during two distinct eras in Portland's musical history. He first came to prominence …

Oregon Encyclopedia

A typical turn of the century mix of transportation options is visible in this photograph looking down Fifth Street at Morrison.  Horse-drawn vehicles share the …

Oregon History Project

Sylvester Pennoyer was a Democratic governor (1887-1895) and mayor of Portland (1896-1898) in a time when Oregon was an overwhelmingly Republican state. A charismatic speaker …

Oregon Encyclopedia