Heritage Museum, Independence

11/14/2024

BREAKING NEWS! The Independence Heritage Museum is thrilled to announce the completion of a significant volunteer-driven project to digitize local historic newspapers. After more than two years of dedicated effort by museum volunteers, 567 editions of Independence newspapers, dating from 1901 to 1939, have been digitally preserved. These issues have been shared with The Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP), a service of the University of Oregon Libraries, and will be freely accessible to the public through the Historic Oregon Newspapers database.

Museum volunteers contributed hundreds of hours to make this project possible. Larry, our lead scanner, dedicated approximately 440 hours to carefully scan thousands of pages, while Haley invested around 100 hours to ensure files were oriented correctly and saved in the proper format. Danielle and Roxanne contributed about 60 hours to accurately name and categorize each file by newspaper title and date. The digitized newspapers are now in the hands of ODNP and will soon be available in their searchable database.

Elizabeth Peterson, Digital Collections Librarian and Program Manager for ODNP, explained, “The Oregon Digital Newspaper Program (ODNP) is a service of the University of Oregon Libraries to digitize historic Oregon newspaper content and make it freely available to the public through a keyword-searchable online database, Historic Oregon Newspapers. The database features 375 titles and over 2.4 million pages of newspapers from across Oregon. ODNP partners with public libraries, historical societies, museums, and other organizations to fund digitization of specific newspaper titles. ODNP also relies on grants and donors to support the program. The scanned issues of Independence newspapers from the Heritage Museum will greatly enhance the content from the Independence area available in Historic Oregon Newspapers.”

This project underscores the value of community involvement in preserving local history, and we’re incredibly grateful to our volunteers for their dedication. It’s another step in our ongoing efforts to share Independence’s history with a wider audience, celebrate the city’s heritage, and ensure it remains preserved for future generations.

For more information, visit the Oregon Digital Newspaper Program at Historic Oregon Newspapers https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu, or contact the Independence Heritage Museum.

10/07/2024

Did you miss the Ghost Walk this weekend? Or did it leave you wanting more?

Good news! This October, the Heritage Museum is offering special additional Ghost Tours. Join Marilyn Morton, author of "Haunted Independence, Oregon", for a captivating private Ghost Tour that you won’t want to miss.

Whether you're looking for a private tour or prefer to join a group of up to 20, we have options to fit your preference. Don’t wait—visit our website to reserve your spot for a thrilling, family-friendly, one-hour journey through the haunted history of Independence.

https://www.orheritage.org/book-online

10/04/2024

10/02/2024

09/25/2024

NEW! In addition to our annual Ghost Walk, you can book a private Ghost Tour.

For the first time, you can join a small group or reserve a private Ghost Walk tour, perfect for family gatherings, friends' night out, or team-building experiences. Join a public tour for just $10 per person, with a maximum of 20 participants, or take advantage of our private tour option, available for groups of up to 20 people at a flat rate of $150.

Tours will be led by Marilyn Morton, the mastermind behind the Independence Ghost Walk. Morton is a long-time resident of Independence and the author of "Haunted Independence, Oregon," published in 2013. Her passion for uncovering and sharing the town's ghostly history has made the Ghost Walk a cherished tradition for both locals and visitors alike.

How to Book Your Private Ghost Walk:
Go to the website: www.orheritage.org/ghostwalk to book your tour. There are two options:
Public Group Tours: $10 per person, with a maximum of 20 people per tour.

Private Tours: $150 for up to 20 people, offering a personalized experience tailored to your group.

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting from out of town, the Independence Ghost Walk promises an evening of fun, history, and just the right amount of fright. Secure your spot now and get ready to explore the haunted side of Independence!

09/24/2024

We are so is excited to showcase Oregon artist Frances Stilwell's "Oregon's Botanical Landscape" artwork. It will be on display at the museum from September 24 through November 30, 2024.

Oregon artist Frances Stilwell (1940–) left a successful career in science to devote herself to art. Working mainly in pastels, she documented Oregon’s native plants in their natural habitats. A selection of reproduced artwork created for her book, Oregon’s Botanical Landscape: An Opportunity to Imagine Oregon Before 1800, is on view in this breathtaking traveling exhibition, accompanied by Stilwell’s “grace notes” — her thoughts on the experience of creating the artwork, along with scientific information about the plants depicted. The artwork is organized into eight ecoregions (areas with similar environmental resources, such as geology, organisms, soil types). This traveling exhibition includes four reproduced artworks from each ecoregion.

Stilwell believes there is a strong connection between a sense of place and native plant imagery. “When we see these native plants in their native environments, we are assured that we are home in Oregon.”

To learn more about the exhibit, visit www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/frances-stilwell.cfm or visit the museum at 281 S. 2nd St, Independence, OR.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday 10AM - 4:30PM, and admission is FREE!

Oregon artist Frances Stilwell documents Oregon’s native plants in their natural habitats. All of the artwork created for her book, “Oregon’s Botanical Landscape: An Opportunity to Imagine Oregon Before 1800,” is on view in this exhibit.

08/23/2024

The Heritage Museum is hosting the exhibit, "From DNA to Beer: Harnessing Nature in Medicine and Industry," on loan to us from the National Library of Medicine. The exhibit is at the Heritage Museum until September 21, 2024. The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10AM - 4:30PM, and admission is always free!

Arena Sports Bar & Grill, one of the oldest public houses in historic downtown Independence, is excited to partner with the museum to promote this visiting exhibit. Take your receipt from Arena to the museum during the dates of the exhibit and receive 10% off at the museum store!

This traveling banner exhibition explores some of the processes, problems, and potentials inherent in technologies that use living organisms.

Microbes, tiny organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye, have altered human history. Life forms such as bacteria, yeasts and molds can cause sickness or restore health, and also can help produce foods and beverages for our consumption.

Scientists, in partnership with industry, have developed techniques to harness the powers of these microbes. In recent years, headline-grabbing technologies have used genetically modified bacteria to manufacture new medicines. Drawing from the collections of the National Museum of American History and the National Library of Medicine, “From DNA to Beer” will help to promote public understanding of the dynamic relationship between microbes, technology, science and medicine.

The exhibit was guest curated by Diane Wendt and Malory Warner from the Division of Medicine and Science, National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

08/23/2024

As the fall season draws near, the historic streets of Independence, Oregon, are once again ready to welcome ghostly tales and eerie encounters. This September and October, the Independence Ghost Walk, a beloved local tradition, is offering a unique opportunity for those who dare to explore the supernatural side of this charming town.

Regular Ghost Walk is scheduled for October 5 from 5-7pm. Still free! But, for the first time, you can now join a small group or reserve a private Ghost Walk tour, perfect for family gatherings, friends' night out, or team-building experiences. Join a public tour for just $10 per person, with a maximum of 20 participants, or take advantage of our private tour option, available for groups of up to 20 people at a flat rate of $150.

Tours will be led by Marilyn Morton, the mastermind behind the Independence Ghost Walk. Morton is a long-time resident of Independence and the author of "Haunted Independence, Oregon," published in 2013. Her passion for uncovering and sharing the town's ghostly history has made the Ghost Walk a cherished tradition for both locals and visitors alike.

Go to the website: www.orheritage.org/ghostwalk to book your tour.

08/21/2024

We are delighted to be hosting the exhibit, "From DNA to Beer: Harnessing Nature in Medicine and Industry," on loan to us from the National Library of Medicine. The exhibit is at the Heritage Museum until September 21, 2024. The museum is open Tuesday - Saturday 10AM - 4:30PM, and admission is always free!

This traveling banner exhibition explores some of the processes, problems, and potentials inherent in technologies that use living organisms.

Microbes, tiny organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye, have altered human history. Life forms such as bacteria, yeasts and molds can cause sickness or restore health, and also can help produce foods and beverages for our consumption.

Scientists, in partnership with industry, have developed techniques to harness the powers of these microbes. In recent years, headline-grabbing technologies have used genetically modified bacteria to manufacture new medicines. Drawing from the collections of the National Museum of American History and the National Library of Medicine, “From DNA to Beer” will help to promote public understanding of the dynamic relationship between microbes, technology, science and medicine.

The exhibit was guest curated by Diane Wendt and Malory Warner from the Division of Medicine and Science, National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution.

08/09/2024

The Heritage Museum Society board is spicing up the summer by grilling up delicious meat and plant-based hot dogs at the River's Edge Summer Concert Series! For just $8, you can enjoy a hot dog, or grab a combo with chips, a drink, and a cookie for $10. We’ve even got foot-long freezies to help you beat the heat! And don’t worry, our team has their food handlers permits, so you’re in good (and clean) hands. Special thanks to the Police Department for lending us their top-notch hot dog roller!

All proceeds from our sizzling sales go directly to supporting the museum. So, come out this Friday night, enjoy some great music, and help us make history a little more delicious. See you there!

07/24/2024

Standing on the Northwest corner of Main and Monmouth Street in downtown Independence is the Hirschberg and Rosendorf building. Erected in 1884, this architectural icon initially served as a bustling general merchandise store, evolving over the decades to house a hardware and tin store, followed by a grocery establishment. In the 1920s the scene transformed as Sylvester Drug and Watch Repair took over the space. In 1946 the Sylvester's passed the torch to the enterprising Taylor family and the corner remained Taylor’s for over 60 years.

Join Heritage Museum Curator Amy Christensen as she talks with Billie Kay Herrell, former co-owner and operator of Taylor's, about the store's history, her father Dee, and the real-world impacts it had beyond being a simple general store.

Standing on the Northwest corner of Main and Monmouth Street in downtown Independence is the Hirschberg and Rosendorf building. Erected in 1884, this archite...

07/18/2024

The Albert Clinton Moore exhibit, created by our very own Amy Christensen, debuted at the Heritage Museum this weekend.

Through the lens of Albert Moore's photography, you can view life in early twentieth-century. Moore skillfully captured tender family moments shared between himself, Rose, and their children, Ramona and Dan. As Mayor and a successful Main Street entrepreneur, Moore played a vital role in Independence history. This legacy of civic engagement extended to his daughter Ramona, who supported and contributed to the Heritage Museum during her life.

The items on display include Rose Moore’s elegant 1904 wedding dress, mercantile goods from Moore’s store, and personal effects spanning the 1900s to the 1930s. Each artifact tells a part of the Independence story, including education, economic trade, social connections, and enduring family bonds.

Immerse yourself in the genuine moments preserved within the Albert Clinton and Rose Olive Moore Collection. The exhibit will be on display until September.

One perk of working at the Heritage Museum in Independence is that you never know what will be donated on any given day.

07/06/2024

Today is the last day to see the amazing fluorescent rocks exhibit!
It might be hot outside, but it is cool in the museum. Come visit the Heritage Museum, admission is always free! We are open today, July 6 from 10AM to 4:30PM.

Send a message to learn more

07/02/2024

The museum will be closed July 4 & 5 in observation of Independence Day.

July 6 is the last day to enjoy Radiant Rocks: Unveiling the Hidden Glow of Fluorescent Minerals!

06/10/2024

Over 500 children visited the museum from April 18 - May 18, either with a school group, or with family, because of the Radiant Rock exhibit. The exhibit has been extended until July 6 - so come check it out!

One of the best parts of working at a museum is the thank you notes that we get from school groups.

This mailing came to us over the weekend from South Shore Elementary School. These Albany 4th graders visited with a group of over 50 students, along with lots of chaperones and teachers. The group had a museum tour with Kevin Cassidy, spent time with Peggy Clyne learning about fiber arts, had a special "Radiant Rocks" presentation by Bob Oblack, our local rockhound, and were given a tour of downtown by John Young.

These school group visits are only possible because of the hard work, dedication, and passion provided by our museum volunteers. Thank you to everyone who has a hand in making these visits a reality.

We hope you enjoy the Thank You's as much as we do!

06/04/2024

The well-traveled Radiant Rocks exhibit is extending its stay at the Independence Heritage Museum!

06/01/2024

We are at Monmouth Has Pride - come join us! Get your photo taken for the 2024 Community Quit.