Washington County Museum

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Washington County Museum
Washington County Museum logo 2012.png
Established 1956
Location Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
Coordinates 45°31′21″N 122°59′22″W / 45.522458°N 122.989479°W / 45.522458; -122.989479Coordinates: 45°31′21″N 122°59′22″W / 45.522458°N 122.989479°W / 45.522458; -122.989479
Type private: history
Visitors 4000 (2011)[1]
Director Samuel Shogren[2]
Owner Washington County Historical Society
Public transit access Hillsboro Central MAX station
Website washingtoncountymuseum.org

Washington County Museum is a history museum located in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1975, the museum is operated by the Washington County Historical Society with a mission of preserving the history of the area.[3] The museum moved the main exhibit space to downtown Hillsboro at the Civic Center in 2012. The prior museum space remains as a research library at Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus and as home to the original Washington County Jail built in 1853.[4]

Contents

History [edit]

In the 1930s, local historian Albert E. Tozier donated his collection of artifacts, books, maps, and other items to the county historical society.[5] Beginning in 1939, the artifacts were displayed at Hillsboro's Carnegie Library.[6] In 1956, the Washington County Historical Society was incorporated.[7]

In 1962, the society looked at using Shute Park as a possible home for their museum, which was not built at that time or at that location.[8] However, the society temporarily moved their collections to the park's pavilion that year.[6] Then in 1975 the county decided to start a formal history museum.[7] From 1975 to 1987, Washington County owned and operated the museum.[9] During that time the museum was in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, at the Heidel Home.

In 1982 a new museum was built at the Portland Community College campus at Rock Creek, and it opened in January 1983.[7] Then in September 1987 the Washington County Historical Society took over operations at the museum.[7] In 2007, the museum began a $1.7 million expansion of the facility to more than double the size of the museum.[10] The museums annual fundraiser featured Oregon State Beavers basketball coach Craig Robinson as the master of ceremonies in 2009 and raised around $90,000 for the museum.[2][11]

Grand opening of the new exhibit space in Hillsboro in 2012

The museum announced plans to move into a space at the Hillsboro Civic Center in a return to downtown Hillsboro, originally set for January 2013.[1] The new space would cover 12,400 square feet (1,150 m2) on the second floor in the commercial portion of the center.[1] After signing a fifteen-year lease, the museum was set to complete $1.5 million in improvements to both the new space, as well as the former location at PCC.[1][12] The former museum building at PCC is to be converted to a public library and historical research facility.[1] The new downtown location plans to have increased hours to attract more visitors.[12]

After securing a traveling NASA exhibit of the Hubble Space Telescope, the museum opened the new exhibit space early in November 2012. [13] Renovations of the former exhibit space at Rock Creek and additional improvements at the Civic Center were planned to be completed at a later time.[13] The exhibit Hubble Space Telescope: New Views of the Universe was planned to run through the end of May 2013.[13] An exhibit exploring the history of the Bracero Program in the county also opened at that time.[14]

Details [edit]

The museum received 5,000 visitors annually at the old 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) facility.[15] The renovated building now attracts nearly 1,700 as of 2008, and has a membership of 314 as of October 2009.[2] Washington County Museum houses approximately 40,000 artifacts and receives another 500 pieces each year.[15] The museum operates a small store in the lobby selling books about local history.[16] There is also a research library with over 25,000 images, more than 1,400 maps, and over 500 books along with other historical records and newspapers.[17]

Inside the old building at PCC

Collections, exhibits, programs [edit]

One exhibit at the museum is the original Washington County Jail built in 1853.[18] This structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places from 1986 until 2008.[19][20] Previously located at the county fairgrounds, the structure was rehabilitated and moved to the museum in 2004. The 10-foot (3.0 m) by 16-foot (4.9 m) jailhouse is was originally located inside the museum,[18] but was moved outside when the museum was expanded in 2007.[21]

Other artifacts in the collections range from everyday items such as sewing machines, to a wedding dress of a local prominent family.[22] The museum's other exhibits include This Kalapuya Land that focuses on the Native Americans of the area, Washington County in a Nutshell that features artifacts from throughout the county's history, and a changing exhibit along with visiting collections.[21] Visiting exhibits have included Oregon is Indian Country from the Oregon Historical Society, among others.[23] Also, the museum partners with Print Arts Northwest to convert the lobby into an art gallery each month.[2]

Formerly, the museum hosted an annual plowing event named the Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition to demonstrate farming before mechanized agriculture.[24] However, the event has moved to Champoeg State Park.[25] Washington County Museum also educates the local community on the history of the county including use of a mobile museum.[26]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Ho, Sally (June 20, 2012). "Washington County Museum's expansion includes Hillsboro move, public library". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 21, 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c d Luna, Taryn (October 14, 2009). "Washington County Museum remakes itself to attract more members, visitors". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  3. ^ Local Historical Organizations. Lewis & Clark College. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  4. ^ Get Out Guide. OregonLive.com. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  5. ^ Buan, Carolyn M. This Far-Off Sunset Land: A Pictorial History of Washington County, Oregon. Donning Company Publishers, 1999. p. 15.
  6. ^ a b "Washington County Groups See Another Museum Vote". The Oregonian. June 21, 1962. p. 11. 
  7. ^ a b c d Our History. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  8. ^ "Zone, Museum Issues on Washington Ballot". The Oregonian. January 18, 1962. p. 21. 
  9. ^ Washington County Museum may charge admission. The Oregonian, August 6, 1990.
  10. ^ Gorman, Kathleen. A bigger commitment to history. The Oregonian, September 28, 2007.
  11. ^ Tierney, Dana (November 12, 2009). "Organizers say Washington County Museum gala was a success". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-11-13. 
  12. ^ a b Gaston, Christian (September 7, 2012). "Museum moves to Hillsboro center". Hillsboro Tribune. p. A1. 
  13. ^ a b c Redden, Jim (October 19, 2012). "Reaching for the stars". Hillsboro Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2012. 
  14. ^ Castillo, Andrea (November 16, 2012). "Washington County Museum retrieves memory of Bracero farm laborers". The Oregonian. Retrieved 18 November 2012. 
  15. ^ a b A call to step up, help county history stay alive A call to step up, help county history stay alive. The Oregonian, June 15, 2006.
  16. ^ Store. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  17. ^ "Research Library". Washington County Museum. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  18. ^ a b "The years have changed 'Doing Time'", The Oregonian, September 9, 2004.
  19. ^ "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks & Recreation Dept.: Heritage Programs: National Register. Retrieved 2008-02-29. 
  20. ^ "January 2, 2009". National Register of Historic Places Listings. National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-01-07. 
  21. ^ a b "Exhibits". Washington County Museum. Retrieved 2009-10-15. 
  22. ^ Collections. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.
  23. ^ Gregory, Roger (November 17, 2009). "Thursday reception to celebrate local museum's latest exhibits". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
  24. ^ Draft Horse Plowing Exhibition, The Oregonian, May 19, 2006.
  25. ^ Draft horses find greener, softer pastures for plowing exhibition. News-Times. Retrieved on March 31, 2007.
  26. ^ Education. Washington County Museum. Retrieved on February 29, 2008.

External links [edit]

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