Join Us in Preserving Oregon’s Military Heritage
The Oregon Military Museum (OMM) invites you to play an active role in preserving and sharing Oregon’s military history. Whether through artifact donations, financial contributions, or in-kind gifts, your support helps us honor the service of Oregonians, connect generations through storytelling, and keep history alive for years to come.
Our Structure
As a component of the Oregon Military Department, OMM is a unique partnership. We are proud to be housed at Camp Withycombe, with our grounds and facilities maintained by the state. The Museum is currently directed and managed by a full-time museum professional (federal employee), supported by a team of Museum volunteers.
The Museum receives no direct public funding for programs or daily operations and so relies on the generosity of individuals like you who donate through OMMP to bring Oregon’s rich military history to life.
How You Can Help
Your support, in any form, is essential to our mission. Here are four key ways you can make a difference.
| Type of Support | Description | How to Proceed |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Gift | Your tax-deductible gift is the most direct way to support our day-to-day mission. These funds are vital for artifact conservation, exhibit development, and educational outreach. | Monetary contributions are securely processed through our fundraising partner, the Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP). Learn more below or visit OMMP’s website for additional information. Contributions are securely processed through our fundraising partner, the Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP). OMMP Donation Page |
| Donate Artifacts & Archives | Share a piece of history. We welcome military-related objects, photographs, letters, and books that tell the story of Oregon’s military service and home front support. | All offers are reviewed by the Collections Committee before acceptance to ensure alignment with our collections scope. To begin the process, complete our Patron Donation Offer Worksheet or learn more below. |
| In-Kind Support | Donations of needed goods or services help reduce operational costs and allow more resources to go toward our core mission. | If you or your business would like to offer in-kind support, please contact us at 971-355-2275 to discuss current needs. |
Our Partner: The Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP)
The Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP) is our nonprofit partner, a 501(c)(3) auxiliary organization whose sole mission is to secure the private and public support the Museum needs to thrive. Every dollar raised helps us create new exhibits, care for priceless artifacts, provide volunteer training, and offer engaging educational programs for visitors of all ages.
To learn more about OMMP, visit their website or donate online.
Share Your Story: Collections Donations
The Oregon Military Museum gratefully considers all offers of donation that align with our mission: to preserve and share Oregon’s military history from pre-statehood to the present day, including stories of home front support.
We welcome offers of:
-
- Military-related personal objects, uniforms, artwork, and equipment.
- Books, manuals, and other nonfiction publications.
- Photographs, scrapbooks, diaries, moving images, audio recordings, and personal papers.
To submit an offer, please complete the Patron Donation Offer Worksheet, or provide equivalent documentation with the requested details. This helps us create an inventory and understand your donation’s condition, provenance (its history), and connection to Oregon or an Oregon service member.
Please note:
- We are only able to accept unrestricted and unconditional gifts.
- All donation offers are reviewed by the Museum’s Collections Committee prior to being received or delivered to the Museum.
- Donations brought directly to the Museum or left at the Museum without prior approval by the Museum Director will be destroyed and disposed of.
- Museum personnel cannot provide appraisals. For appraiser referrals, please contact the American Society of Appraisers or call 800-272-8258.
Due to legal and safety considerations, the Museum cannot accept:
- Items outside the scope of our mission.
- Items in poor condition or with active pest infestation.
- Hazardous materials such as radioactive objects, live ammunition, or unexploded ordnance.
A Note on Our Current Donation Process
Following the successful installation of our three gallery exhibits in 2025, our now decreased but dedicated team is focused on significantly decreasing the backlog of donations received over the last five years while also updating our donation offer review, intake, accessioning, and cataloging process in line with evolving professional standards.
While we strive to decrease our donation offer response time, we continue to develop and care for the Museum’s growing collections with your support and deeply appreciate your patience as we work to better serve OMM visitors and steward donations for generations to come.