The Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $75,031 in grants to 15 museums throughout the state as part of the Oregon Museum Grant program. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation, interpretation, and heritage tourism. Award amounts ranged from $1,052 - $8,000.

Funded projects:

• Benton County Historical Society, in Philomath, to complete the ADA assessment phase of the museum master plan.
• Update the interpretation of Native American history in the permanent exhibit at the Cannon Beach History Center.
• Replace the roof of the Sumpter Museum in Baker County.
• Digitize and make accessible through the University of Oregon Digital Newspaper Program the Willamina newspapers (1909-1972) and establish a museum research desk at the Willamina Museum in Yamhill County.
• Preserve documents, scrapbooks, photos, and artifacts related to Patricia Whiting, who was the first Filipina to serve in the Oregon House of Representatives, housed at Five Oaks Museum in Washington County.
• Organize the collection storage area at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum in Hood River County.
• Provide a shared presentation system housed at the Gold Hill Historical Society Museum, including a speakers bureau and equipment for five participating museums in Jackson County.
• Rehouse, assess damage, and update records for 75 historic textiles that were impacted by sprinkler water during a building fire at Gresham Historical Society.
• Collect oral histories and create a video about the Portland Greek Festival in Portland.
• Purchase storage materials and rehouse the quilt and textile collections at Jacknife-Zion-Horseheaven Historical Society.
• Provide access to oral histories, archival documents and photos through an interactive touch screen at Keizer Heritage Foundation.
• Conduct the mechanical restoration of a 1914 LaFrance Pumper Truck at the Oregon Fire Service Museum, Memorial & Learning Center in Marion County.
• Purchase and organize appropriate storage containers for textile collection pieces at the Shelton McMurphy Johnson House in Eugene.
• Scan and associate with the catalog records of about 50% of the Deeds of Gift to the Southern Oregon Historical Society collection.
• Purchase a 3-D relief map of the “Wallowa Country” which includes traditional Wallowa band Nez Perce homelands and present-day Wallowa County for the Wallowa History Center.

The museum grant program is offered annually by the Oregon Heritage Commission, part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program began in 1965 when only 24 organizations were eligible for the program. The grant is funded OPRD lottery dollars.

The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.

The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background.

To learn more about the Oregon Museum Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.