Benton County Museums

Benton County Museums Our mission is to connect our community by preserving and sharing its diverse, evolving stories.
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New Exhibit! The Philomath Museum's Moreland gallery now displays a series of American quilts made from 1760 to the pres...
07/24/2024

New Exhibit! The Philomath Museum's Moreland gallery now displays a series of American quilts made from 1760 to the present, all from the Bill and Linda Volckening collection.

It's not too late! This is the last week to see Spirit Coalescence, a series of multimedia canvas works that combine ill...
07/23/2024

It's not too late! This is the last week to see Spirit Coalescence, a series of multimedia canvas works that combine illustrative painting and landscape photography. This exhibit ends on July 28th. Learn more on our website at bentoncountymuseums.org/exhibits (link in bio).

It's Mystery Monday! Can you help us figure out who this mystery woman is? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!Thi...
07/22/2024

It's Mystery Monday! Can you help us figure out who this mystery woman is? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

This portrait of an unidentified woman is dated approximately 1905 and is part of the collections of Harriet Moore, a Corvallis resident and former archivist for Oregon State University. Ms. Moore was a well-known local historian and received many documents and photographs from area residents. Unfortunately, the source of many of her collection items is now unknown. Harriet Moore's collection is now stored in our state-of-the-art collections facility in Philomath, OR.

Can YOU figure out this woman's story?

Happy Friday, everyone!We have some thrilling news to share. Our fundraising efforts for the architectural plan to enhan...
07/19/2024

Happy Friday, everyone!

We have some thrilling news to share. Our fundraising efforts for the architectural plan to enhance ADA accessibility and the functionality of the over 150-year-old Philomath College building, home to the Philomath Museum, are almost complete.

We need your help to reach our goal! We're just $26,976.26 short, and even a $5 donation can make a difference. Help us make the Philomath Museum a more accessible and functional space for our community.

Donate today under the PHILOMATH MASTER PLAN!!!
https://donorbox.org/sustainability-of-bchs?designation=Area%20of%20greatest%20need&default_interval=m

It's Throwback Thursday! Scroll through these images to see nearly 100 years of the Benton County Courthouse unfold befo...
07/18/2024

It's Throwback Thursday! Scroll through these images to see nearly 100 years of the Benton County Courthouse unfold before your eyes. Watch as 5th Street in Corvallis develops around the very consistent view of the courthouse from 1890 to 1985. The Benton County Courthouse as we know it today was built in 1889 and is now a 135-year-old building.

Photograph dates in the following order from beginning to end:
1890, 1892, 1898, 1906, 1910, 1915, 1940, 1965, 1972, 1985, and finally a birds-eye-view photo of Corvallis in 1905. You can see the courthouse off to the far right in this photo.

There is still time to register for the Discovering Museum Artifacts: Sketching & Watercolor Workshops! Join us for two ...
07/17/2024

There is still time to register for the Discovering Museum Artifacts: Sketching & Watercolor Workshops! Join us for two nights of creative exploration as we recreate museum artifacts in art!

Register below! Registration closes July 20th!!!

Class fee is $30, and materials are provided with the registration fee.

In the first session, we will embark on a museum tour, admiring the collection of artifacts while honing our drawing skills. Participants will learn basic drawing techniques suitable for beginners. In the second session, we will focus on watercolor painting, exploring various techniques to create vi...

For this Thursday's Corvallis Arts Walk, the Corvallis Museum will be featuring Jimena Lloreda (). Jimena is a Puerto Ri...
07/16/2024

For this Thursday's Corvallis Arts Walk, the Corvallis Museum will be featuring Jimena Lloreda (). Jimena is a Puerto Rican writer, illustrator, and visual artist who works in masks/costumes and illustrates stories that deal with autobiographical themes about being a mother and woman in Puerto Rico.

Stick around after the Corvallis Arts Walk for a special showcase by Jimena in the Corvallis Museum Collins Room starting at 7pm. The Corvallis Museum will be open late past 4pm for this event.

Happy Thursday! Take a look at the history of this Georgia Pacific  #5 locomotive. If it looks familiar to you, it's bec...
07/11/2024

Happy Thursday! Take a look at the history of this Georgia Pacific #5 locomotive. If it looks familiar to you, it's because it is well-known across Benton County, OR as the iconic train engine that currently sits in Avery Park, Corvallis.

Did you know that it was originally created in 1922 by Baldwin Locomotive Works (Philidelphia, PA) for use by the Brooks-Scanlon Lumber Company in Bend, OR? It was re-sold to Georgia Pacific in 1956. It was then relettered and put to work in Toledo, OR on a track going from Yaquina-Toledo-Selitz-Monmouth. Only three years later, in the summer of 1959, it was abandoned. The following year, The Lions Club acquired and donated it to the city of Corvallis to be installed in the park on September 28th, 1960, exactly where it sits today! The train itself is now 102 years old and has held its spot in Avery Park for over 60 years! It is truly a staple to Avery Park.

Photos from the Jeff Moore Collection, Jerry Lamper Collection, and BCHS Collection.

We will be tabling at the Philomath Frolic all three days from 5pm to 9pm! Find our photobook to snap a picture riding o...
07/10/2024

We will be tabling at the Philomath Frolic all three days from 5pm to 9pm! Find our photobook to snap a picture riding on real-life cowboy saddles that have been deaccessioned! Learn about the process of deaccession, what it means, and the lifecycle of our collection items.

DON'T WAIT! This is the last week to see Betty LaDuke's exhibit: Bringing the World Together. This exhibit ends on July ...
07/09/2024

DON'T WAIT! This is the last week to see Betty LaDuke's exhibit: Bringing the World Together. This exhibit ends on July 13th. Pick up postcards, prints, and more of LaDuke's work at both museum stores!

This Thursday, July 11th we will be painting with cockroaches, guided by artist and educator Heather Andrews! Join us fo...
07/08/2024

This Thursday, July 11th we will be painting with cockroaches, guided by artist and educator Heather Andrews! Join us for this free activity at the Corvallis Museum. Learn about beneficial insects, their habitats, and meet some real-life Madagascar Hissing Cocroaches! Finally, create your own one-of-a-kind art piece which will remain on display in the Museum through August!

This activity is FREE for all ages (recommended for ages 7 to 12). Parents must stay on-site with children during this hands-on workshop.

It's the hottest day of summer! Stay out of the heat and visit the Corvallis Museum to enjoy our refreshing air-conditio...
07/06/2024

It's the hottest day of summer! Stay out of the heat and visit the Corvallis Museum to enjoy our refreshing air-conditioning! We are open all day today, 10am to 4:30pm! Peruse the exhibits and the local arts and crafts in our Corvallis Museum store!

Join us tomorrow morning at 10:00am for our first Museum Kids! Splash & Scrub activity of the summer! Learn about old-fa...
07/05/2024

Join us tomorrow morning at 10:00am for our first Museum Kids! Splash & Scrub activity of the summer! Learn about old-fashioned laundry cleaning methods and play with bubbles and gold panning! This activity is FREE for all ages, recommended for ages 6-10 and will be held in the Corvallis Museum courtyard.

Take a glance into the past at this photograph of Madison Ave. Corvallis, OR back in the 1920s. This view of Madison tak...
07/04/2024

Take a glance into the past at this photograph of Madison Ave. Corvallis, OR back in the 1920s. This view of Madison takes place on the corner of 4th and Madison. The Whiteside Theater, constructed in 1922, would be just out of frame to the left of Nolan's Department Store (as seen in the second image taken in 1929). If taken today, we would be looking at Footwise in place of the department store and Guardian Games just a block down the road on the corner of 3rd and Madison.

07/03/2024

We invite YOU to become a part of Benton County's history. We are thrilled to announce that a generous, anonymous donation of $25,000 from a long-time museum supporter has given us a remarkable start to the Philomath Museum Master Plan, which will renovate the Philomath Museum building to improve accessibility, longevity, and efficiency.

Our goal is to match this $25,000 gift by July 30th, so we can begin this exciting and inclusive new chapter for the Philomath Museum. If you are interested in donating to contribute to this match, please contact Development Director Jen Waters at [email protected] or mail us at PO Box 35 Philomath, OR 97370, indicating that you would like to be part of making the Philomath Museum thrive.

Join us in preserving and celebrating our shared legacy!

Our mission is to connect our community by preserving and sharing its diverse, evolving stories.

Looking for something fun to do with your kiddos this Saturday? Our first Museum Kids! activity will be this Saturday, J...
07/03/2024

Looking for something fun to do with your kiddos this Saturday? Our first Museum Kids! activity will be this Saturday, July 6th at 10am in the Corvallis Museum Courtyard. Learn about laundry in the olden days, play with bubbles, and pan for gold with fun sensory stations for kids. This activity is FREE for all ages (recommended for ages 6 -10).

Follow us on Instagram  for fast and convenient updates about our current events, exhibits, and lectures!               ...
07/02/2024

Follow us on Instagram for fast and convenient updates about our current events, exhibits, and lectures!

07/01/2024

We have a lot of fun planned this summer so save these dates! You can find more information about each event on our website (link in bio)!

July 6th | 10:00am | Corvallis Museum - Our first Museum Kids! Splash & Scrub activity of the summer. Join us for fun water-based activities in the Corvallis Museum courtyard.

July 11th | 10:30am | Corvallis Museum - Painting with Cockroaches. Meet some real-life Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and learn to paint with them! Free activity for all ages, parents must remain on-site with children.

July 11th to 13th | 5:00pm | Philomath - Philomath Frolic! We will be hosting a photobooth at the Frolic for all three days! Stop by and snap a photo on our genuine cowboy saddles!

July 14th | 2:00pm | Corvallis Museum - The Merely Players will be presenting a preview of their adaptation of Henry IV: Follies of Falstaff. Stop by and enjoy this free show of witty, dramatic hijinks!

July 18th | 4:00pm | Corvallis Museum - We will be open late for the Corvallis Arts Walk! This month we will be featuring special guest Jimena Lloreda, an influential artist traveling from Puerto Rico.

July 20th | 3:00pm | Philomath - Philomath Sip 'n' Stroll! The Philomath Museum will be a pit-stop, partnering with local breweries, for this enjoyable meander around downtown Philomath.

July 22 & 29 | 6:00pm | Corvallis Museum - Discovering Museum Artifacts: Sketching & Watercolor Workshop. Are you interested in a night of drawing and painting in the museum? Join us for two nights of creative exploration! Registration is open now!

July 24th | 6:30pm | Corvallis Museum - Kitten Yoga! It is kitten season at Heartland Humane! We will be hosting their furry friends every month of summer for a night of yoga and kitten chaos! Registration opens July 1st.

July 27th | 10:00am | Philomath Museum - Insects and Art: Field Day! As a continuation of Painting with Cockroaches, enjoy more art lessons from unique critters! This class will require pre-registration, which opens July 15th!

July 30th | 10:00am | Corvallis Museum - Then & Now: Art as Foundation Exhibit in collaboration with Blackfish Gallery and The Arts Center.

Our mission is to connect our community by preserving and sharing its diverse, evolving stories.

Road construction blocking the entrance to the Philomath Museum is now RESOLVED! Come on by and enjoy our beautiful Phil...
06/28/2024

Road construction blocking the entrance to the Philomath Museum is now RESOLVED! Come on by and enjoy our beautiful Philomath Museum on this sunny afternoon in Benton County!

Do you love to draw? Have you always wanted to try watercolor? Registration is OPEN for Camila Godoy Valdés' workshop on...
06/27/2024

Do you love to draw? Have you always wanted to try watercolor? Registration is OPEN for Camila Godoy Valdés' workshop on sketching and painting museum artifacts! Find the registration link on our website at bentoncountymuseums.org/events.

Join us at the Corvallis Museum for two nights of creative exploration! All materials will be provided under the $30 registration fee.

Time is running out! The Betty LaDuke exhibit ends on July 13th. Stop by the Philomath Museum to see LaDuke's inspiring ...
06/25/2024

Time is running out! The Betty LaDuke exhibit ends on July 13th. Stop by the Philomath Museum to see LaDuke's inspiring work.

Our final Community Conversations meeting to discuss the Philomath Museum Master Plan is TODAY at 3pm in the Philomath M...
06/24/2024

Our final Community Conversations meeting to discuss the Philomath Museum Master Plan is TODAY at 3pm in the Philomath Museum. Stop by and tell us what you think!

Calling for Volunteers! We will be hosting our first Museum Kids! activity on Saturday, July 6th. We need two adult volu...
06/21/2024

Calling for Volunteers! We will be hosting our first Museum Kids! activity on Saturday, July 6th. We need two adult volunteers to help set up our interactive, outdoor kids' exhibits. Bonus points if you want to dress up like the olden days and get into character (but not required)!

Email [email protected] for upcoming volunteer opportunities this summer.

We hope to see you TONIGHT, 4pm to 7pm, for the Corvallis Arts Walk!Photo by  of her piece: Meltdown©. 2023, 16" x 20", ...
06/20/2024

We hope to see you TONIGHT, 4pm to 7pm, for the Corvallis Arts Walk!

Photo by of her piece: Meltdown©. 2023, 16" x 20", acrylic paint, candle wax on canvas. Jisu's work will be featured among two other artists at the Corvallis Museum!

Add the Corvallis Museum to your Corvallis Arts Walk stop! The Corvallis Museum will be open late tomorrow, 4pm- 7pm, fe...
06/19/2024

Add the Corvallis Museum to your Corvallis Arts Walk stop! The Corvallis Museum will be open late tomorrow, 4pm- 7pm, featuring three unique artists this month:

will present sculptures highlighting art as a vessel for expressing and addressing personal trauma.

will present a sculpture collection titled It’s Giving Head.

Vesna Grace Hopkins will present photography inspired by her upbringing in the Republic of Macedonia and her travels as an adult across the world.

This SATURDAY we will be tabling at Philomath Pride from 12pm to 4pm! Stop by our booth to dress up Bruce the Moose for ...
06/12/2024

This SATURDAY we will be tabling at Philomath Pride from 12pm to 4pm! Stop by our booth to dress up Bruce the Moose for a selfie. Grab some info about our upcoming summer events while you're there!

This SATURDAY is our very first Community Conversation meeting regarding plans to renovate the historical Philomath Muse...
06/11/2024

This SATURDAY is our very first Community Conversation meeting regarding plans to renovate the historical Philomath Museum building to improve accessibility and preservation.

We want to hear YOUR questions or concerns! Please join us this Saturday at 2pm in the Philomath Museum.

Join us this SATURDAY the 15th at the Corvallis Museum. We will be hosting a book signing of "Benton's Story: An Oregon ...
06/10/2024

Join us this SATURDAY the 15th at the Corvallis Museum. We will be hosting a book signing of "Benton's Story: An Oregon County History" with authors Bill Robbins and Larry Landis.

William "Bill" Robbins has authored many books outlining the history of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. His most recent book, co-authored with BCHS board member Larry Landis, is the most comprehensive account of Benton County history to date.

Copies of Benton’s Story are available in the Corvallis Museum store.

Bustlin' Annie Co.’s Summer Market is happening NOW at the Corvallis Museum! Open until 6:00pm, don’t miss out on this i...
06/08/2024

Bustlin' Annie Co.’s Summer Market is happening NOW at the Corvallis Museum! Open until 6:00pm, don’t miss out on this incredibly event!

We still have spots open for our behind-the-scenes tours of the Johnson Collections Center located at the Philomath Muse...
06/05/2024

We still have spots open for our behind-the-scenes tours of the Johnson Collections Center located at the Philomath Museum! 10:30am slots and 12:30pm slots are still available this Saturday, June 8th.

Address

1101 Main Street (PO Box 35)
Philomath, OR
97370

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