Museum of the Oregon Territory
Museum of the Oregon Territory
Museum of the Oregon Territory
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Museum with exhibits on the local history of Clackamas County, from the indigenous people who have called this land home for thousands of years, to modern industrial marvels that brought power to Portland. Special exhibits including the Kaegi Pharmacy - a complete pharmacy straight from the late 1800s and early 1900s - and the Industrial Hall focusing on the many industries of the Willamette Falls area. Open 10:30 am - 4:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday. Guests who have purchased tickets may stay until 4:30 PM.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
53 reviews
Excellent
31
Very good
18
Average
3
Poor
1
Terrible
0
laurie m
3 contributions
Jun 2023
Enjoyed the museum with our very informative guide Zach. Learned about the history of the area and the native American heritage. Zach showed us the falls from the third floor and gave an informative narrative of the area. Worth the visit.
Written 3 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
The staff was friendly and very helpful. The museum contained interesting exhibits and historical information. It is worth your time if you want to know a little bit more about Oregon and specifically how the Willamette River shaped its development.
Written 9 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
half-Brit
Oregon Coast49,572 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
This is an excellent museum.
All the displays are well presented, clean, well marked, and this museum includes a ton of comprehensive information without making your eyes glaze over!
I think my favourite exhibit was the mysterious "face" petroglyph. Who was that being?
We both liked the section on early transportation, particularly the ship's artifacts. Somehow they managed to locate and save interesting items such as the anchor from the "Owhyhee" - the first ocean going ship to sail up the Willamette River. And how wonderful to see a real cannon which made its way across the country on the Oregon Trail in 1847!
The Kaigi Pharmacy exhibit is amazing. I enjoyed reading some of the labels - positively chilling. Medicine has come a long way in a century or so, thankfully.
And who knew (I didn't) that the *first ever* long-distance transmission of electricity went from Oregon City to Portland?
They have some great treasures here. The museum is open Wed-Sat, 11 to 4 and when we went it was free. The friendly docent told us that they try to get corporate sponsors each month to allow free admission for the people. What a great idea.
RVs - there is really no RV parking here, except for smaller motorhomes. The parking lot is not set up for trailers. There is some curb space along Tumwater Drive to the east of the parking lot, if the pub patrons next door haven't filled it up.
To get to the museum, use 2nd Street off McLoughlin Blvd, where there is a signal.
Definitely plan a visit here, it's well worth it.
All the displays are well presented, clean, well marked, and this museum includes a ton of comprehensive information without making your eyes glaze over!
I think my favourite exhibit was the mysterious "face" petroglyph. Who was that being?
We both liked the section on early transportation, particularly the ship's artifacts. Somehow they managed to locate and save interesting items such as the anchor from the "Owhyhee" - the first ocean going ship to sail up the Willamette River. And how wonderful to see a real cannon which made its way across the country on the Oregon Trail in 1847!
The Kaigi Pharmacy exhibit is amazing. I enjoyed reading some of the labels - positively chilling. Medicine has come a long way in a century or so, thankfully.
And who knew (I didn't) that the *first ever* long-distance transmission of electricity went from Oregon City to Portland?
They have some great treasures here. The museum is open Wed-Sat, 11 to 4 and when we went it was free. The friendly docent told us that they try to get corporate sponsors each month to allow free admission for the people. What a great idea.
RVs - there is really no RV parking here, except for smaller motorhomes. The parking lot is not set up for trailers. There is some curb space along Tumwater Drive to the east of the parking lot, if the pub patrons next door haven't filled it up.
To get to the museum, use 2nd Street off McLoughlin Blvd, where there is a signal.
Definitely plan a visit here, it's well worth it.
Written 19 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerry M
Utah51 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Excellent views of the Willamette River and Blue Heron Paper Factory.
Best apothecary displays I have seen.
Soup to nuts exhibits, clothing, transportation, fishing and historical artifacts, even a meteor.
Admission was free the day we went, but donations are encouraged. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.
There is even a family history library inside.
Video history of the settlers is impressive.
School agers can benefit as well, since the exhibits are lower down.
The carriage and wagon are well-preserved, as are the baskets and fishing spears, etc.
Great way to spend part of a day. It's not a huge museum, but a lot of info. is contained therein.
Best apothecary displays I have seen.
Soup to nuts exhibits, clothing, transportation, fishing and historical artifacts, even a meteor.
Admission was free the day we went, but donations are encouraged. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable.
There is even a family history library inside.
Video history of the settlers is impressive.
School agers can benefit as well, since the exhibits are lower down.
The carriage and wagon are well-preserved, as are the baskets and fishing spears, etc.
Great way to spend part of a day. It's not a huge museum, but a lot of info. is contained therein.
Written 22 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OliviaK
Portland, OR72 contributions
The best thing to see in Oregon city especially in the winter when everything else is closed. Great exhibits and lots to see! We really enjoyed it. It was also free which I'm not sure if it is everyday but it was today. It has lots if parking too!
Written 6 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alana B
Townsend, DE78 contributions
Sept 2013 • Family
The Museum of the Oregon Territory is located in Oregon City with an exceptional view of the Willamette Falls, especially from the third floor. Admission is free and it is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 PM.
The exhibits and displays are exceptional. The exhibits, including an incredible photo that covers several walls, draws you into the moment. First you find yourself looking at the overall group of people posing in the picture. Then you search the facial expressions of young and old, only then looking at the clothing for a clearer idea of that moment in time. The Kaegi Pharmacy is a fun and an incredible exhibit and you find yourself reading the titles on the bottles and wondering about medicine and cares of the 1800 and early 1900s.
The exhibits are well defined and cover many subject matters for the local history of Clackamas County. It is definitely a museum that you would like to spend more time, but even a glimpse of some of the exhibits give you a sense of the spirit of the area. A must see if you are in the area, it would be a great museum to visit again.
The exhibits and displays are exceptional. The exhibits, including an incredible photo that covers several walls, draws you into the moment. First you find yourself looking at the overall group of people posing in the picture. Then you search the facial expressions of young and old, only then looking at the clothing for a clearer idea of that moment in time. The Kaegi Pharmacy is a fun and an incredible exhibit and you find yourself reading the titles on the bottles and wondering about medicine and cares of the 1800 and early 1900s.
The exhibits are well defined and cover many subject matters for the local history of Clackamas County. It is definitely a museum that you would like to spend more time, but even a glimpse of some of the exhibits give you a sense of the spirit of the area. A must see if you are in the area, it would be a great museum to visit again.
Written 14 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlexaM67
Woodburn, OR15 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
I have always wanted to visit this museum, perched above "The Old Highway" of 99E just south of Oregon City, and was finally able to today.
For an inexpensive $5 admission charge, you can wander the second floor museum (elevator provided) and get some amazing insights into history. The elevator opens up to quite a few wedding dresses from the past (unbelievable women cinched their waists so tiny) and wanders through exhibits from petroglyphs, items such as old curling irons, leg chains, rope braiders, a history of the electric house at Willamette Falls and the paper mill, to a large collection of arrowheads, and replica of a pharmacy, and so much more.
There's a children's area with some clothes to play dress up and a two telegraph machines with a Morse Code graph for a step back into the past.
On the third floor is a space that can be rented for events, and the first floor contains a historical and will soon be adding genealogical information.
The view from just about ever window is a birds-eye view of Oregon City's Willamette Falls and the cars zooming by below you on the highway.
Well worth the money if you're interested in history.
For an inexpensive $5 admission charge, you can wander the second floor museum (elevator provided) and get some amazing insights into history. The elevator opens up to quite a few wedding dresses from the past (unbelievable women cinched their waists so tiny) and wanders through exhibits from petroglyphs, items such as old curling irons, leg chains, rope braiders, a history of the electric house at Willamette Falls and the paper mill, to a large collection of arrowheads, and replica of a pharmacy, and so much more.
There's a children's area with some clothes to play dress up and a two telegraph machines with a Morse Code graph for a step back into the past.
On the third floor is a space that can be rented for events, and the first floor contains a historical and will soon be adding genealogical information.
The view from just about ever window is a birds-eye view of Oregon City's Willamette Falls and the cars zooming by below you on the highway.
Well worth the money if you're interested in history.
Written 7 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LewBowers
Portland, OR77 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
this county museum has a pretty ho hum display about the history of the area. It does not have much on the early European settlers but duos have a good history of the industrial and electrical generation at the falls. Give the immense importance of this falls in the history of the North West, it deserves a better museum. However, there is a great view of the falls and the old industrial building's from the second floor windows.
Oregon City was really the first American settlement on the West Coast, the first courthouse, the original land office, etc. The neatest display is the original plat for the City of San Francisco which they had to file in Oregon City. Museum is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday so I suggest you call ahead to confirm hours.
Oregon City was really the first American settlement on the West Coast, the first courthouse, the original land office, etc. The neatest display is the original plat for the City of San Francisco which they had to file in Oregon City. Museum is only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday so I suggest you call ahead to confirm hours.
Written 9 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathy W
McKinney, TX167 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
I didn't have very high expectations for a small city museum, but this one was very nice. The exhibits were well done and did not seem amateurish at all. In fact, the pharmacy display was amazing and as good as any display I have seen. There is a section devoted to the Native Americans from the area, a section devoted to early settlers, and a display centered around military involvement of this area. There is an obvious pride in Oregon and Oregon City. It is nice that the falls are directly across the street so you can see both with one stop. Definitely a nice experience.
Written 14 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jarush910
Oregon City, OR23 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
I love History, especially the Oregon Trail, so this is the city for me. I moved from the beginning of the Trail, near Independence, MO, to the end. The Museum is an excellent experience.
Written 30 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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