Heritage

HERITAGE

THE LEGACY OF A SHARED LAND

Humans have been living in Southern Oregon since before recorded history, with some evidence pointing to human activity over 15,000 years ago. It wasn’t until the 1840s that Anglo-settlers arrived en masse with dreams of independent lives, living o this bountiful land. Today, the history of both Indigenous peoples and settlers are told across the region, through cultural institutions, museums and spoken word, ready for visitors to listen and learn.

The Applegate Trail arose in the 1880s, becoming an important alternative to the main Oregon Trail route to the Willamette Valley. Many settlers chose sunny Southern Oregon as their new home. The Applegate Trail Interpretive Center in Sunny Valley depicts the stories of the covered wagons, gold, and rail and stage lines that defined the settlers’ experiences. Just up the road in Wolf Creek is the Wolf Creek Inn, built in the 1880s as an oasis for weary travelers. Today, the inn still serves meals and provides beds to sojourners.

Find artifacts showcasing the history of mining, fishing, farming and timber at Roseburg’s historic time capsule, the Douglas County Museum. The museum also has one of the largest plant collections on display in the Northwest, providing a glimpse of the diversity of the forests that surround this special region. The Southern Oregon Historical Society in Medford celebrated 75 years in 2021, and showcases antique fire engines, women’s fashion, renowned photos by famed photographer Peter Britt and a historic farm that guests can even rent for special events.

On the coast, Coos History Museum brings to life maritime history, the history of fire on the Oregon Coast and more than 250,000 images of the widely captured Southern Oregon coastline. North of Paisley in the Outback, stop at the Fort Rock Homestead Museum, with a collection of homestead-era buildings including a church, school and cabins filled with historic items.

The Favell Museum in Klamath Falls features Native American artifacts and contemporary Western art, including arrowheads, cradleboards, miniature guns and more. Collier Memorial Logging Museum is home to the largest collection of logging equipment in Oregon. Klamath County Museum is the region’s main history hub. The Fort Klamath Museum, north of Klamath Falls, is a small gem with interesting artifacts from the era when hundreds of soldiers were stationed there.

The Fort Klamath Museum