Museum of the Oregon Territory

The Museum of the Oregon Territory is a must-see for any visitor to Portland. Visit how Willamette Falls affected the area's economy and see how it transformed the landscape. The earliest settlers left their possessions, photographs, and documents in Clackamas County, which is home to Native American petroglyphs and artifacts as well as original items from Clackamas County's first settlers, among other things.

In 1952, the CCHS was founded as a not-for-profit organization in Clackamas County, Oregon. It began accepting historic artifacts, photographs, and other donated items from the community shortly after. The CCHS was incorporated on March 30th, 1953. Founding member Mertie Stevens's family home and numerous relics were given to the collection by her in 1968. After that, the Stevens House Museum became a heritage museum and helped establish CCHS' reputation.

As the collection expanded, members saw that a modern museum building with trained personnel was required to preserve and interpret Clackamas County's history. The Latourettes gave the property at Second and Tumwater in Oregon City for public enrichment in the 1970s, and subsequently, the site was chosen for the new facility. In 1985, work began on the new museum facility, and on September 8, 1990, the Museum of the Oregon Territory (MOOT) was opened.

It would be wise to give yourself about 45 minutes to fully enjoy the museum, however, experiences vary. Some visitors, on the other hand, enjoy attending the full 25-minute film "Willamette Falls: Where the Future Began" at PGE Theater. Others may only want to watch part of it or skip it entirely. Some interactive exhibits are presently closed as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. As a result, your visit to MOOT will be shorter than usual.

The newest rotating exhibit is "100 Years of Education in Clackamas County," which complements the permanent displays. The end of the museum, near the elevators, houses this latest rotation. They also have a new Industry Hall inside the Murdock Gallery, which was just added.

If history is what you enjoy, you need to make a stop here! Bring the whole family and step back into time.

Driving Directions To Bathrooms by RUPP, An Oregon Bathroom Company, From Museum of the Oregon Territory

Driving Directions To The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center