Join Us May 20 for Living History Day
Living History Day, aligned with Armed Forces Day, is a festival of living, breathing history, celebrating Oregon’s rich history of service and those who helped shape Oregon’s military legacy. History comes alive through reenactments and interactive engagements while dynamic displays and educational activities offered by present-day military, service support groups, and heritage organizations round out the day’s festivities.
WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 11am-3pm, free and fun for all ages.
This event kicks off OMM’s Historic Park open season, Fridays and Saturdays through November 11.
Keep in Contact & Stay in The Know
We hope you enjoy the first of our quarterly e-newsletters. Just like the Museum, this newsletter will continue to evolve as we get closer to our grand opening and beyond. Each edition will feature museum updates and events, as well as collections and personality highlights.
Between editions, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and don’t forget to visit oregonmilitarymuseum.org to learn more about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, research services, and more.
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!
A Year of Growth
In the last year, the Oregon Military Museum has been busy connecting and serving the public while at the same time diligently developing a suite of exhibits for the indoor galleries and preparing for the building’s grand opening to the public.
Last year, OMM had its first full open season of the Historic Park, bringing in nearly 800 visitors over six months. Besides providing tours for Oregon Veterans’ Homes residents, we also provided our first school field trip and plan to do more of both in the future. We also introduced a slate of programming events. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War provided a day of educational interactives and reenactments while our monthly Vehicles on the Green series offered visitors the opportunity to see military vehicles from our collection before they make their way into permanent exhibition.
Throughout the year, OMM has hosted military and service support organizations such as Service Member & Family Support (SMFS), Reserves Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), US Army Civil Affairs, and Oregon National Guard (ORNG) Recruitment, as well as events celebrating the 41st Infantry Division Association and the 10-year state partnership between Vietnam and ORNG. Meanwhile our auxiliary organization, the Oregon Museum Military Project (OMMP) recently expanded its board after helping to put on our first Friends of the Museum event in appreciation of those who have recently supported the Museum, its programs, and its future initiatives.
The Museum also reinvigorated its educational outreach programming, hosting Paws Assisting Veterans (PAVE) and their veteran’s service dogs program, as well as a local blacksmith living historian sharing stories of early Battery A, nearside the Historic Park’s Battery A Field Artillery Horse Barn. Moving into 2023, OMM will expand its programming throughout the year, providing online resources and onsite activities to engage visitors of all ages while continuing to honor, educate, and preserve Oregon’s military history.
Help Us Build Your Museum
Be a part of making OMM the best museum it can be. Let us know your thoughts on providing high-quality, wide-interest programming, resources, and exhibitions, as well as how we can show our appreciation for your continued support. Please take a moment (or two) to fill-out our brief survey with two main questions:
1. What kinds of programs, events, exhibits, or activities would bring you or your family to OMM?
2. What kinds of membership perks would you like to receive as an OMM/OMMP member?
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 access and care.
Volunteers like Mark and Phil have helped the Museum for decades while others are newer to OMM, like Preston and Stephen who came on as Historic Park Attendants in 2022 and are ready for a second season. Shelley is leading the charge in unpacking our library books collection while Kelsey has diligently inventoried our photo collections, of which DuWayne has scanned over a thousand images. Meanwhile, our restoration shop volunteers, many of whom have been part of OMM for years, have continued to restore and care for military vehicles and artillery in our permanent collection, recently restoring a WW2 M29 Weasel tracked vehicle and preparing to make each object exhibition-ready.
Each volunteer brings unique skills, interests, and strengths that help make OMM a success. Get to know our volunteers, along with museum staff and supporters, in upcoming issues of our museum e-newsletter.
OMM could not offer the programs, collection care, exhibits, or educational outreach without the dedicated service of our volunteers. If you are interested in joining our team, don’t hesitate to reach out or apply directly through our website or the link below. There are a range of volunteer opportunities though Historic Park Attendants are much needed for our Friday and Saturday open hours, May 20 – November 11. We look forward to meeting you!
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. Thank you!