The Park is Open. Programs and Events are Happening. Our Volunteer Corps is Growing.
Summer is quickly turning to fall. We only just opened the Historic Park in May and are already planning for our Seasonal Closing & Veterans Appreciation Day in November. Despite the cooling temperatures, there are still plenty of reasons to visit OMM this fall…
This is the first of our bi-monthly e-newsletter. Each edition will feature museum updates and events, as well as collections and personality highlights. Between editions, visit our recently updated website, oregonmilitarymuseum.org, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. In addition to learning more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and research services, our website will continue to grow with new resources related to Oregon military history. We look forward to introducing you to our cast of characters and to keeping you up to date on all the exciting activity happening at OMM!
Historic Park Receives New Addition
The tracked vehicle pad welcomed its final addition, completing our outdoor tank display. Painted desert tan, the M1 Abrams Tank pays tribute to the 3-116 Cavalry Battalion of Eastern Oregon, who used such tanks in the early 1990s. Interpretation will not be finalized until next year, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to see this amazing piece of equipment on display.
While here, explore the Battery A Field Artillery Horse Barn filled with American and Japanese artillery, and the Quartermaster Storehouse, which tells the story of Oregon’s early training and the growth of the National Guard.
The Historic Park is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 10am-3pm, through November 12. As always, admission is free for all OMM has to offer.
A Day of Discovery with The Sons of Union Soldiers
Recently, OMM hosted Early Engineering with the Sons of Civil War Union Veterans. Living historians and reenactors filled the Historic Park, providing a day of discovery for visitors of all ages who were invited to experience the life and times of Union soldiers during America’s Civil War.
Saturday’s event featured Union Calvary soldiers riding on horseback and running riffle drills. A Civil War Union cannon boomed on the hour. President Lincoln even stopped by to address talks to the people. Living historians shared how Union soldiers from the 1860s assembled and disassembled pontoon bridges across rivers, what medicines were used to ease pain, how telegraph messages were sent to fellow soldiers, and the tools and technology they used to dig ditches in the dark and quickly build sturdy dirt walls in preparation for attack.
A huge thanks to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of the Columbia Baker Camp and Axillary for making the day one to remember. We’ll be sure to let you know when they come back again!
Upcoming Events
Vehicles on the Green
Second Saturday of the Month (through November, weather permitting)
This fall, join us as we feature historic military vehicles on display in the Historic Park. Talk with OMM volunteers who accurately restored these impressive machines and uncover each of these vehicles’ connections to Oregon military heritage. This will be the last opportunity to get up close to some of these amazing examples of history before they are placed on permanent display in the Museum’s main gallery. Past vehicles included the 1960s OH-23 Raven helicopter and the WW1 era Liberty Truck, one of the most historically accurate in the nation.
October 8: Vietnam War Era M151A Utility Jeep (Mutt) and M274A5 Platform Truck (Mule), as well as a 1950s M37 Truck with Radio & Teletype Shelter
November 12: WW2 M29C Cargo Carrier (Weasel), as well as select vehicles on display at previous Vehicles on the Green
Veterans Appreciation Day / Historic Park Seasonal Closing
Saturday, November 12, 10am-3pm
All are invited to enjoy one last day in the Park before the closing of our historic buildings for the winter months. Join us as we celebrate veterans and service members with outdoor vehicle displays (weather permitting), refreshments, and snacks. This will be the last opportunity to see these historic vehicles before being prepped for our first generation exhibits in the Museum’s main gallery. As part of our OMM Celebrates Oregon Veterans event, visiting veterans and service members will be honored with a unique gift and token of our appreciation. Join us in celebrating our veterans and the culmination of OMM’s first (of many) open season.
OMM’s Volunteer Corps
These are just some of the faces that make up our Volunteers Corps. With their help, OMM has been able to open the Historic Park to the public and introduce educational programming for the first time. They also provide custodial support, complete restoration projects, and expand collections care. Volunteers like Mark and Phil have helped the Museum for decades while others are newer to OMM, like John who came on as a Historic Park attendee in May or Kelsey who has diligently inventoried sections of our photo collections in recent months. Each volunteer brings unique skills, interests, and strengths that help to make OMM a success. Get to know our volunteers and other museum staff and supporters in coming issues of our museum e-newsletter.
As the Museum prepares for its grand opening in 2023, additional volunteer opportunities will become available, along with continued volunteer support in collections, facilities, programming, and docent services.
Donations made to OMM’s 501(c)(3) auxiliary organization, the Oregon Military Museum Project, support ongoing operations and the continued growth of the Museum. Your donations help make exhibits, programs, preservation, and outreach possible.