Members of the Yasui family were among the millions of immigrants who came to the United States seeking new opportunities during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like many Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants), they experienced racism and oppression; state and federal laws prevented Japanese immigrants from owning land, and anti-Japanese organizations sought to strip Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) of their birthright citizenship. Yet Nikkei (Japanese immigrants and their descendants) like the Yasui family persisted in establishing roots in Oregon, starting families and businesses, and shaping the social and economic fabric of the communities where they lived.
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center is excited to host a Poster & Literary Contest to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This contest is open to everyone in and around Baker County. The goal of the contest is for participants to analyze their own thoughts and feelings about America, what it […]
The Oregon Blue Book is our state’s official almanac and fact book. Produced by the Oregon State Secretary of State’s Office, it has been in continuous publication since 1911. Come and see various Blue Books since its debut on display in the Capitol Galleria. The Oregon Blue Book contains listings and descriptions of government agencies […]
In 2026, the United States marks its 250th birthday with the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence. What did the events of 1776 mean to the people living in the Mid-Willamette Valley? In this multi-part, multi-disciplinary exhibit, we will explore how echoes from the year 1776 continue to be heard in our community. […]
The Minidoka National Historic Site was officially established in 2001 as part of the National Park Service after years of Japanese American advocacy. This exhibition celebrates 25 years of preservation at this site where many Nikkei from Oregon and Washington were incarcerated during World War II. Artwork by survivors, descendants, and Japanese American youth explore […]
Cities are built upon layered histories. The Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other peoples lived on, traveled through, and cared for this land long before Portland existed. Their stewardship sustained communities for thousands of years, guided by deep ecological knowledge and cultural relationships with the environment. White settlement in […]
“Good Morning America” is visiting a new state each week following the order in which they joined the United States as part of “America the Beautiful: 50 States in 50 Weeks.” Along the way, “GMA” will spotlight the beauty of the people who make up America, inviting viewers to share the people in their neighborhood and state […]
Waves of Tradition celebrates the diverse maritime traditions and scenic beauty that shaped Oregon’s South Coast in conjunction with the United States’ 250th anniversary. Highlights include local cultural connections to the shipbuilding and fishing industries as well as traditional festivals, legends, and superstitions. Event Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible venue Accessible parking Sensory-friendly accommodations Service animals welcome
Step into a world where nature-themed prints meet Portland Japanese Garden’s springtime vibrance in Enduring Impressions: Contemporary Woodblock Prints. Featuring the art of mokuhanga (木版画), Japanese-style woodblock printmaking, this exhibition reveals how a centuries-old tradition is experiencing a contemporary revival as artists around the world use the quiet power and unique characteristics of woodblock printmaking to create captivating works of art.
The History Museum of Hood River County opens for the season on March 7, 2026, with The Pursuit of Happiness, a photo exhibition by Oregon photographer Peter Marbach. In celebration of Oregon’s diverse beauty and spirit, the America 250 Oregon Commission contracted with Marbach to showcase the essence of Oregon and its vibrant communities. The Pursuit […]
Join the City of Coburg for an open house and dedication of a new metal art display on the walls of the Coburg Community Grange featuring pieces of Coburg history. The timber industry was the first industry in Coburg with the Sash Mill founded by Jacob Spores. By 1890, there were three mills in Coburg. […]
250 in the West: Back East with Flannery Burke How have Western writers and scholars imagined and shaped the American East? In her book Back East, historian Flannery Burke flips the script on American regional narratives by centering the west in the cultural landscape. Join the High Desert Museum for a discussion of how Westerners have influenced the development of […]
Learn about a recently completed multimedia project, Temporary Detention: A Guide to the Forced “Assembly Centers”. This interactive website explores the history and legacy of the 16 temporary detention centers operated by the Western Civil Control Administration during World War II. These euphemistically called “Assembly Centers” were hastily-built detention centers that imprisoned approximately 92,000 Americans […]
OHS presents “Oregon Connections: A Conversation Series on the Right to be Free,” an all-virtual program series featuring conversations among experts and with audience members. Although many of the decisions that affect people’s access to rights such as freedom of speech, citizenship, and due process are made at the federal level, it is often on […]
The third Saturday of March, by state statute, is Cherry Blossom Day at the capitol. Celebrate spring, the blossoming cherry trees in the Capitol Mall, and the impact of Japanese culture on our state. We will be celebrating with education, activities, and performances from 10am to 2pm. Free and open to the public. Parking is […]
At various sites throughout Oregon, several eminent Oregon poets will recite their poems from the anthology "Just Imagine: Oregon Horizons." The volume examines how the historical idea of our frontier place and the experience of those who have settled here have influenced our particular character as we look out at our horizons to recall those […]
“America the Beautiful” may be America’s most beloved song. But few know about the fascinating life of the writer behind it. From Sea to Shining Sea: Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of “America the Beautiful” explores the rich life of poet, professor, and social reformer Katharine Lee Bates, author of "America the Beautiful.” As we approach […]
Join Oregon Humanities on Tuesday, March 31 at 7pm for a conversation about the changing role of religious spaces in Oregon. Guests Frank So, director of Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon; Rev. Amy Jayne of Cove Ascension School and Conference Center; and Brandon Rhodes, D.Min. of Coburg Commons will join Adam Davis onstage in La Grande to explore how faith communities across the state […]
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center is proud to dedicate its April Open Theme Show to “This Land is Your Land” in collaboration with Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Union, Oregon, who will be offering two purchase awards for $500 each: “Pastoral and Range Landscape” and “The Ranch Lifestyle” awards. Crossroads Carnegie Art Center is celebrating […]
The Salem Art Association’s Heritage Talks series continues on Friday, April 3 with speaker Dr. Russell Low as he explores his family’s struggle to establish roots and pursue their dreams in a world of Chinese exclusion. The little-known, decades-long partnership between the Hop Lee and Bush families in Salem reveals a powerful story of friendship […]
