OMM volunteer talks with visitors in front of the tracked vehicles, all with new interpretive panels.
From The Director’s Desk
While summer begins to wind down and kiddos return to school, the Museum continues to be in full swing. As Katrina has so appropriately noted, we are in GO MODE! To many, it might seem like we’ve been quiet, but rest assured, activity has been ramping up inside our walls. So, let’s get you up to speed.
This year’s open season has been busy with Historic Park attendance up 50% (or 1.5 times more) over 2023. Insane! New collaborations led to extremely successful programming which we hope to bring back in the coming years. The Museum Store recently had its most profitable month yet, thanks perhaps to the new t-shirts and books available. Read on to learn more about September programming, including a special event paired with our newest book addition.
The most exciting news for staff and volunteers so far this year was the installation of Wi-Fi throughout the entire building. Thank you so much to AGI-IT for making that happen! It has made a world of difference for staff and has allowed wider opportunity for public programming. With connectivity came an upgrade to the computer we use for our collections management. We are currently identifying avenues for acquiring additional computers so that we can grow our much-needed fleet of cataloging volunteers.
It cannot be underscored enough that there is a lot of work to do before we fully open next year, and we need more volunteers. Whether you are interested in joining our docent or Historic Park team or prefer working with library or museum collections, we have a place for you! Read on to find out the many projects our Volunteer Corps is currently working on. To learn about volunteer opportunities and how your interests may align, check out our website.
If you haven’t visited the Park recently, please swing by to check out our new Tracks & Treads interpretive panels — yes, the M1 Abrams now has its official sign! While a small part of the overall reopening project, this felt like such a win and proof that things are moving forward. We recently began rearranging the drill floor into its future display configuration. If you come by for an end of month tour, please do excuse our dust!
So, what’s next? Well, you know by now I keep my cards a little closer than I used to, but let’s just say we will have a special unveiling in early 2025, which should also come with an announcement of our opening date. Until then, we will continue to prep artifacts and the building for exhibits installation (paint party anyone?), plan programming and opening events for 2025, assist OMMP with end of year fundraising events (are you on their mailing list?), and finish out the current open season with a book signing, Civil War era event, and more. Keep following us on social media and refreshing our online calendar. And lastly, please be patient with us, because again, we are in GO MODE!
Kindest Regards,
Kathleen Sligar
Museum Director and Curator
Left to right: Living History Day, Kids Summer Fun Bash, Today’s Military Tech & Transport, 2024.
A Packed Season of Activity
The Historic Park’s 2024 open season was packed with an array of new and returning events and monthly programs. This year, we were excited to add monthly tours, with volunteers guiding visitors through the soon-to-be exhibit galleries, filled with military vehicles and artillery. A return from last year, monthly series Boots to Wheels (B2W) celebrated WWI in June and food in the field for July. Unfortunately, August was cancelled due to heat, but September will spotlight radios and communication (September 7). The addition of unique special events on the third Saturday of the month proved successful with a mix of new and returning events.
We kicked off the Summer with Today’s Military Tech & Transport, filling the field with present day engineering equipment and military police vehicles, a decontamination trailer, and even a robot provided by the Oregon National Guard. Living History Day, while hindered by a heatwave, once again brought together living historians, local history organizations, military heritage organizations, and military support services organizations, providing rich and diverse displays and engagements. In August, we partnered with the ORNG Child & Youth Program, hosting their Back-to-School Bash alongside our own Kids Summer Fun Bash with an outdoor challenge course, arts and crafts room, oversized lawn games, and RC vehicles. And if you missed last year’s Civil War day, don’t worry. Union Soldiers & The Civil War returns September 21 with interactive activities, demonstrations, and displays, with the help of reenactors and living historians from the Sons of Civil War Union Veterans, 26th NY Colored Regiment (Washington Civil War Association), and NW Civil War Council. Also happening in September, local author Susan Tate Ankeny will be discussing her new book American Flygirl which highlights local WWII WASP Hazel Ying Lee, September 14, 12-1pm. September will also be the last month for gallery tours happening the last Saturday of the month, September 28 at 11:30am and 1:30pm.
With the changing of the season, the Park will only be open on Saturdays through October, before closing for the year. Starting in November, we will be refocusing our efforts as we begin a new phase of preparation, installation, and readiness for the complete reopening of the Museum. While we will need to pause offering community gallery tours in the coming months, we are glad to have been able to share the Museum with Creekside Independent Living, Salvation Army Seniors Group, Korean War Veterans Group, Society of American Military Engineers, Happy Valley Veterans Group, Glenmoore Independent Living, Rose City Thunderbirds Club, Powers Elementary School, Countryside Living Memory Care, and the ORNG State Partnership Program during 2024.
Multiple stages of installation will be happening in the coming months and into the new year, allowing for tiered openings as we move towards the complete reopening in 2025. Keep an eye out for events happening in February before our final stage of installation begins!
Support OMM at A Harvest for Oregon’s Military History, October 4
The Museum’s auxiliary development and fundraising organization, the Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP), is hosting A Harvest for Oregon’s Military History on October 4, 6-9pm. The event will feature a silent auction, along with refreshments, including a suggested donation wine bar, and light finger foods. Walk through the drill floor and talk with volunteers and staff as they share personal connections to the items on display and the Museum’s initiatives and goals. This may also be your last chance to see the military vehicles and artillery before we close up the drill floor for exhibits installation.
Your support enables the Oregon Military Museum to not only fully reopen but to continue to grow and thrive well past opening day. In the coming months, the Museum will be preparing collection items for display, installing facility updates and exhibits, and laying the groundwork to hit the ground running upon full reopening. This includes developing and enhancing educational programming, public engagement, research services, and volunteer training. Your financial support fuels the Museum’s programs and operations now and into the future.
Volunteers engage students during a class field trip, bringing together history, technology, and perspectives.
From Armory to Museum
Preparing the building for its upcoming role as an open museum is more than just getting exhibits installed. Museum Coordinator Joey Beach reports:
Exciting Facilities Upgrades at the Oregon Military Museum
As we prepare for our grand reopening in 2025, OMM is undergoing a series of crucial facilities upgrades to enhance our building’s functionality and visitor experience. From modernizing our HVAC systems to expanding our Wi-Fi network and updating our electrical infrastructure, these projects are pivotal in readying our museum for the future.
We are pleased to announce the completion of several important upgrades:
Wi-Fi: Our initial phase of the Wi-Fi enhancement project is complete. Twelve access points (APs) are now active throughout the Museum’s main building, ensuring a more reliable and robust internet connection. This foundational upgrade sets the stage for future initiatives, including extending Wi-Fi coverage to the historical buildings in the Historic Park.
Collections Management Computer and Software Update: The Museum acquired a new desktop computer, and we have upgraded our collections management software. These updates have improved records processing, making it more reliable, efficient, and user-friendly. We hope to add more computers soon to further expand both staff and volunteer cataloging capacities, as well as introduce public access to these invaluable resources.
Other projects being lined up:
Electrical Work: Contractors have been scheduled to complete electrical work in critical areas including the gallery spaces, lobby, and Hall of Valor. This work is expected to be completed in early September and is essential for preparing these areas for new exhibits and interactive displays.
HVAC Overhaul: Early next year, we will begin a comprehensive overhaul of our HVAC system in the Collections and Exhibits areas, including the upcoming Weapons Gallery. This upgrade is crucial for maintaining the optimal environment for our exhibits and artifacts, ensuring their preservation and longevity.
As these projects progress, we are committed to keeping you informed about our advancements and how they will benefit your experience at the Oregon Military Museum. We look forward to showcasing our improved facilities and welcoming you back in 2025.
Volunteers move the WWI German Howitzer into place in preparation for the upcoming exhibit.
Volunteers Move OMM Forward
The OMM Volunteer Corps is primarily organized into three groups: Library & Collections, Restoration Shop, and Visitor Services. While many of our volunteers take part in more than one, each group has its own character, focus, and projects which are helping to strengthen and support the Museum.
Library & Collections volunteers have led the charge in organizing and digitizing images from our photo collection which has significantly impacted what we will be including in the upcoming gallery exhibits. Other volunteers, having now unpacked the majority of the library books, are helping to select books to fill the Library’s reading room, while also continuing to unpack and prepare our extensive collection of training and field manuals. A select group of volunteers are assisting in a detailed inventory update of the archives’ paper holdings in order to expand accessibility of the collection for research and educational programming. In the coming months, this corps of volunteers will also be helping to prepare artifacts for display, from vacuuming to numbering. As we continue to prepare for exhibits, build our educational resources, and make our collections more accessible, volunteer assistance is an invaluable asset in making all this possible.
The Restoration Shop corps include some of our longest serving volunteers — some of these men helped to close the Museum in 2008, and a few were even part of the ORNG detachment unit initially assigned to provide care and restoration of the military vehicles and artillery pieces in the collection. Additional volunteers have since been added, expanding the pool of craftmanship and unique skillsets from mechanics and maintenance to upholstery and fabrication. Presently, these volunteers have begun to move the “macros”, large artillery and vehicles, into place in preparation for exhibit installation, as well as prepare mounts and other equipment necessary for their display. These volunteers have also been instrumental in having vehicles out as part of our monthly Boots to Wheels series and additional programs, as well as serving as subject matter experts for exhibit interpretation content.
Visitor Services volunteers are our most public facing corps, often the first people visitors interact and engage with while at the Museum. Whether attending the Historic Park or open gallery, leading tours, assisting in youth and education programs, helping to build interpretive content for exhibits or educational materials, assisting at events, or providing additional visitor services support, these volunteers are true museum ambassadors. Some are veterans, some have family connections, some love history, some have a love for the military, and some love museums — each volunteer has a unique story and reason for being part of this corps. When OMM fully opens its galleries and extended facilities in 2025, OMM will need to triple the number of Visitor Services volunteers if we want to be open to the public weekly Wednesday – Saturday. Whether weekly, monthly, or only for part of the calendar year, please consider volunteering at OMM. We really cannot open the Museum to the public without you!
Sign up early to volunteer and be ready for the Museum’s opening in 2025.
Visitor Services volunteers in their “Here to Help” t-shirts lead a free end-of-month Saturday guided tour for families.
Research Requests Offer Surprising Finds
Since the beginning of 2024, OMM has received over two dozen research requests. Inquires range from unit activities and family relations to technology usage and local events. From these inquiries, unique stories and historical details have come to light as materials from the OMM archives have increasingly been made accessible. At present, select volunteers and staff word-search related terms in a document listing the titles of folders in the paper archives (as well as a separate, recently-created photo archives folders list and personal papers previously cataloged in the main collections catalog). Relevant materials are then pulled and reviewed, and then reported to staff who then relay the information to the researcher. When available, OMM provides scanned copies of the material relevant to the research request, in line with our effort to expand digitization of assets and accessibility.
Volunteers are presently assisting in an inventory of the Museum’s paper archives to better understand the material and provide a more robust and user-friendly resource to in turn, make the material in the archives more accessible in the future. When the Withycombe Library fully opens in 2025, the public will have the opportunity to utilize the archives inventory and finding aids for research requests. Staff will also use these to build out education programs, exhibits, and informational resources. In line with present-day collections management standards, OMM plans to integrate the photo and paper archives into the present collections catalog, as well as include finding aids for select personal papers collections. Once funds and resources are secured, and a few other necessary steps are completed to make our collections catalog the best it can be, the Museum then hopes to provide a public-facing searchable online catalog, further expanding access to all the Museum’s collections.
Sylvester Lawrence WWI American Expeditionary Forces Officer Identity Card, Oregon Military Museum Collection.
While uncovering information about the 3rd Oregon and their engagement in WWI as part of a research request, papers covering Sylvester Lawrence’s service were found in the Museum’s archives. From the information found in the scanned file shared with the researcher, OMM volunteer Hailey C. summarized:
Sylvester E. Lawrence was born in Portland, Oregon on June 14, 1893; and his civil profession was in Dairy Husbandry (farming). He stood at over six feet tall and was considered to have excellent character and physical condition at the time of his enlisting. His service record (008-011) includes Troop A Cavalry in 1913 and enrollment at Corvallis State College in 1916.*
He enlisted on June 19, 1916. He furloughed to the National Guard in December (008-011) of 1916. We have records of various items he purchased at the Quartermaster from 1917-1919 (013-015). As of Nov. 28, 1917, he was a Sargent in the National Guard (016). He was instructed to attend the Platoon Commanders School in February 1918 (019). By March 1918, he was assigned to the First Provisional Training Regiment at PONTLEVOY (045). He completed this course as second lieutenant by March 1919 (022). He was sent to Bordeaux, France in April 1918 (025). Throughout the summer of 1918, he occasionally received monetary gifts from his father (033). On Nov. 5, 1918, while Lawrence was in France, he was appointed from second to first lieutenant for the 162nd Infantry of the National Guard (029). In December of 1918, he took a 7-day leave of absence (031). On February 6, 1919, he received orders stating that he was to embark on the S.S. Canopic the very next day, Friday Feb. 7, 1919 (035). He was relieved from this duty on Feb. 22, 1919, and transferred to Officers Detachment 1A (037). He was transferred to Camp Grant, Illinois on Feb. 26, 1919, in order to complete discharge (038). He was then approved for discharge on March 3, 1919 (044).
In April of 1947, he received a letter of appreciation for his contribution to the defense of the Nation in World War II (047).
*Number within parathesis denotes the paper scan showing related information.
Recent & Upcoming Additions to The Honor Brick Garden
The Honor Brick Garden, placed near the Museum’s main entrance, honors veterans, active service members, and supporters of the Oregon Military Museum. For more information about purchasing an Honor Brick, visit http://oregonmilitarymuseumproject.org/bricks-of-honor. The newest additions to the Garden include:
BEAVERCREEK LIONS
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CAPT GARY L CLARK
US AIR FORCE
OR ARMY GUARD
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CHRIS MARKESINO
US ARMY
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CHRISTINE BUCKSON
1STLT USMC
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CMSGT BILL GREEN
USMC 1976 – 1982
OANG 1982 – 2014
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DOYLE JAMES SMITH
US ARMY VIETNAM
FEB 3 1944 – NOV 11 2009
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E-5 LARRY MOSELEY
US ARMY
2 TOURS VIETNAM
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HAPPY VALLEY
VETERANS COFFEE
GROUP. LOVE YOU
CHEERFUL AMY
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ROBERT J MANN
USMC VIETNAM
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SPC5 WAYNE TONG
ORE ARNG 1964-69
HHC 2BN 162 IN
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SUSANNAH LEE
BARLOW NSDAR
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TIM J MILLER
US NAVY
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TIM L MILLER
US ARMY
OMM Staff
Kathleen Sligar, Museum Director & Curator
Katrina O’Brien, Director of Programs & Services
Joey Beach, Museum Coordinator
The Mission of the Oregon Military Museum
To inspire and educate visitors about Oregon’s military heritage and legacy to include the National Guard, the state’s early militia, and all branches of the Armed Forces.
To meet its professional stewardship obligations for the historical artifacts and archives entrusted to its care.