Washington County Museum

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Washington County Museum
Established 1956
Location Washington County, Oregon, United States
Type private: history
Visitor figures 5,000 annually
Director Mark Granlund
Curator Jennifer Kozik
Website washingtoncountymuseum.org

Washington County Museum is a history museum located in unincorporated Washington County, Oregon, United States at Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Campus.[1] This museum is operated by the Washington County Historical Society with a mission of preserving the history of the area.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

In the 1930s, local historian Albert E. Tozier donated his collection of artifacts, books, maps, and other items to the county historical society.[3] In 1956, the Washington County Historical Society was incorporated.[4] Then in 1975 the county decided to start a history museum.[4] From 1975 to 1987, Washington County owned and operated the museum.[5] 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 of 1983.[4] Then in September of 1987 the Washington County Historical Society took over operations at the museum.[4] In 2007, the museum began a $1.7 million expansion of the facility to more than double the size of the museum.[6]

The entrance to the museum.
The entrance to the museum.

[edit] Key facts

The museum receives 5,000 visitors annually to the 5,000 square foot building.[7] Washington County Museum houses approximately 40,000 artifacts and receives another 500 pieces each year.[7] It operates a small store selling books about local history.[8]

[edit] Collections, exhibits, programs

Inside the Washington County Museum.
Inside the Washington County Museum.

The main exhibit at the museum is the original Washington County Jail built in 1853.[9] This structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10] The 10 foot by 16 foot jailhouse is located inside the museum.[9]

Other artifacts in the collections range from everyday items such as sewing machines, to a wedding dress of a local prominent family.[11]

Formerly, the museum hosted an annual plowing event named the Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition to demonstrate farming before mechanized agriculture.[12] However, the event has moved to Champoeg State Park.[13] Washington County Museum also educates the local community on the history of the county including use of a mobile museum.[14]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Get Out Guide. OregonLive.com. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  2. ^ Local Historical Organizations. Lewis & Clark College. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  3. ^ Buan, Carolyn M. This Far-Off Sunset Land: A Pictorial History of Washington County, Oregon. Donning Company Publishers, 1999. p. 15.
  4. ^ a b c d Our History. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  5. ^ Washington County Museum may charge admission. The Oregonian, August 6, 1990.
  6. ^ Gorman, Kathleen. A bigger commitment to history. The Oregonian, September 28, 2007.
  7. ^ a b A call to step up, help county history stay alive A call to step up, help county history stay alive. The Oregonian, June 15, 2006.
  8. ^ Store. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  9. ^ a b The years have changed 'Doing Time'. The Oregonian, September 9, 2004.
  10. ^ Oregon National Register List (PDF). Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept.: Heritage Programs: National Register. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  11. ^ Collections. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  12. ^ Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition, The Oregonian, May 19, 2006.
  13. ^ Draft horses find greener, softer pastures for plowing exhibition. News-Times. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  14. ^ Education. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.