November 2010

For over fifty years, Travellers Rest has been an integral part in the Nashville and middle Tennessee museum community. Saved from demolition in 1954 by the Tennessee Society of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, the historic house, built originally in 1799, was restored to interpret the early 19thcentury life of Judge John Overton, one of the state’s first Supreme Court Justices, the founder of Memphis, and a close personal friend of Andrew Jackson.

From pre-historic bones, the Choctaw Trail of Tears and a stop on the Butterfield Stage Line, to homegrown talents Reba McEntire and the late Lane Frost, the museum and its picnic grounds are a welcome rest stop on US-69 Highway.

As stated in 1976, the purpose of the Oregon Military Museum is to stimulate scientific, literary and educational matters as they relate to State and National Military Departments (All Services); to train citizen soldiers and their communities and to accept contributions for preservation of events concerning the Oregon National Army and Air Guard and the Oregon citizen members of all the National Military Departments. Pursuant to these purposes, the Foundation has, since 1976, devotedly assisted the Military Department, State of Oregon in operating the Military Museum at Camp Withycombe, Clackamas, Oregon (near Portland).

The Smith's collection and the collections and donations of members and others has created one of the finest displays of rocks, minerals, and gems on the west coast.

The Columbia River Maritime Museum was founded in 1962 when Rolf Klep, a native of Astoria, returned to his birthplace after retirement as a successful graphic artist on the east coast. Upon returning, Klep (a long-time collector of marine artifacts) and a group of his colleagues sought to establish a museum to preserve the rich maritime heritage of the entire Columbia River region - a museum of national distinction. Today the Columbia River Maritime Museum’s national reputation for the quality of its exhibits and the scope of its collections makes it one of the finest maritime museums in the nation. It is also the first museum in Oregon to meet national accreditation standards, and has been designated the official state maritime museum for Oregon.

Among the pioneer memorabilia visitors may find a large collection of authentic stagecoaches. The movie, "Paint Your Wagon" starring Clint Eastwood was shot near Baker City, Oregon. One of the museum’s exhibits is a model built at a cost of $72,000 in 1968, that shows the layout of the movie set.

The centerpiece of the museum is the Sam Noble Hall, containing exhibits that recreate life in a turn of the century community. Beginning with an original log cabin, the town includes displays of a general store, drug store, a medical and dental office, barbershop, law office, courtroom, post office, school and blacksmith shop. Also featured in the main hall is the Eaves/Brady Cabin, built in 1893. This cabin was moved to the museum from Pooleville, Oklahoma, and accurately represents frontier life at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Other major exhibits are housed in three historical wings. The transportation and technology wing includes early carriages and buckboards, an electric car, a camera display and a working model of an oil field. Another wing includes a gallery featuring Ardmore’s first fire engine, an exhibit of historic photographs and two large, changing exhibit galleries. The third wing contains the Military Memorial Museum, an area dedicated to the history of local military legends from the American Revolution through Desert Storm.

The Iowa Museum Association works with Iowa Museums to improve educational programs, drive visitation, and teach best practices throughout Iowa.

There are a number of ways to enjoy the Oregon National Historic Trail including auto-touring, visiting interpretive sites, hiking, biking or horseback riding trail segments and visiting museums. Depending on which segment you would like to explore, some or all of these activities may be available.

Although the word "trail" is used in the name, the Oregon NHT is not a true hiking trail. With 2,170 miles of the original route now in the hands of various private and public entities, access to trail segments depends upon the permission of the land owner. Some segments are open to the public for hiking and other means of recreation, while others are not.

Before this land officially became a National Monument in 1909, the idea of having a hotel and resort at the cave entrance was taking form.

The first permanent building constructed here was the Chalet in 1924, the building which now houses the Visitor Center, but this is not the Chalet as we see it today. The 3rd floor and archway were added when it was rebuilt in 1942. The upper two floors of the Chalet now serve as a dormitory for seasonal guides.

Following the Chalet, several rustic cabins were built in 1926 just up slope from where one passes through the Chalet archway. The cabins were for visitors, but later in 1935, the cabins served as summer ranger residences. All but the one cabin have since been removed due to problems with plumbing leaking into the cave. The last cabin now serves as the resource management office for the National Monument.