Pioneer Trails

Storytelling at its best--that's Pioneer Trails, the Umatilla County Historical Society's historic journal. Published three times each year, it is brimming with fascinating stories of the people, places, and events of days-gone-by. Pioneer Trails is the organization's most popular membership benefit and extra copies are available for sale in the Museum Store.

Umatilla County: Pioneer Schools

This book is a nostalgic look at the one-and two-room schools that provided educational settings for so many Umatilla County pupils. The schoolhouses also served as community centers for the "neighborhood".

In 1874 there were four log schoolhouses, six frame schoolhouses with weatherboard or paint, and 22 buildings which were neither weatherboarded nor painted. Between 1875 and 1894, 11 rural elementary schools were built; 39 were built between 1899 and 1914; and 26 were added between 1915 and 1934.

Handwritten letters and reports detail the daily rewards and challenges encountered by teachers and students in the rural schools. Photographs of classmates and teachers and other memorabilia help tell the stories.

Umatilla County: The Early Years

Photographs from the archives of the Umatilla County Historical Society and the East Oregonian newspaper depict life in the region by topic: schools and education, transportation, street scenes, business and commerce, religion, major events, sports and recreation, industry, agriculture, government, and Round-Up. It's a great read for a relaxing break or serious research.

There is much to see at Heritage Station Museum and guided tours help make your museum experience even more memorable. Well-versed docents will provide extra insight, and you'll learn 1890s-style in classroom exercises taught by the school marm. Groups of 10 or more can pre-arrange tours at the special group price of $3/person.

The 4th Grade Museum Experience is a program organized to coincide with classroom studies of Oregon history. All 4th grade classes in Umatilla County are encouraged to participate.  Guided tours, schoolhouse "classes", and extra activities are included in each 2.5 hour visit.

Call the Museum, 541-276-0012, to schedule your visit. 

Need something to spark lively conversation and enthusiastic learning in your group? Consider checking out a "traveling trunk". These self-contained teaching units will appeal to students of all ages, 4-H'ers and Scouts, and adult study groups. They are also popular in retirement settings.

Trunks currently offered relate to genealogy and pioneer schools.  They are filled with hands-on activities, a teacher's guide and group exercises, books and other resources.

There is no charge for use of the trunks, except for transportation. They may be shipped to you or you may transport them to and from Heritage Station Museum yourself. Call 541-276-0012 for more information and to reserve your dates.

Terrific Tuesdays

Since 1985, diverse topics have been explored in a free-to-the-pulic program series entitled "Terrific Tuesdays". Though not always scheduled on Tuesday as they once were, each one is surely terrific! The subjects are appropriate for the curious of all ages. One or two of these events is offered monthly. The following sampling of past programs is indicative of the never-ending possibilities:

• Private Collections such as campaign buttons, stamps, nodders, tools, dolls
• How-to Programs such as pine needle basket weaving, assembling and operation of windmills, repairing old furniture
• Scholarly Presentations on Indian beadwork, Chinese in the Pacific Northwest, Major Lee Moorhouse's photography, Lewis & Clark Expedition medicines
• Ask-the-Expert discussions about identifying cut glass and Pendleton Woolen Mill patterns, how to maximize your auction experience
• First Person Interpretations
• Celebrations of Century Farm honors, the Oregon Trail Sesquicentennial, and milestones of all kinds
• Oregon Council for the Humanities Chautauqua programs

Be watching the calendar for current offerings.

 Old Iron Show

A wide variety of brightly-colored machinery and intriguing pop-pop-popping sounds fill Pendleton's Roy Raley Park the first weekend in June each year. The Old Iron Show features tractors and other vintage equipment and single-cylinder engines. Collectors from throughout the Pacific Northwest enthusiastically demonstrate their equipment and answer questions. The show is open from morning to dusk and, thanks to our sponsors, is free of charge.

 Special Events

Special events vary from year to year and have included antique appraisal events, Century Farm Tours, a Salute to Veterans in conjunction with the 50th anniversary commemoration of World War II, tours of historic areas, and branding parties to document livestock brands used in Umatilla County--just to name a few. Some events are fundraisers; most events are open to the public.