Classroom & Group Visits

Oregon My Oregon interprets Oregon’s histories through visual guides, artwork, artifacts, photographs, audio/visual presentations, and hands-on displays for children. The exhibit leads you chronologically through the history of the first inhabitants to current day and explores the diversity of the landscape and the people that have occupied the region.

Select one of the following tours or we will customize a tour based on your requests.  Tours of the Oregon Historical Society’s research library can be combined with exhibit tours.

Student Tours

• Hear It, See It, Do It

  Pre-School – Kindergarten

  Accommodates up to 20 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 45 minutes

  Students will hear a story related to current museum exhibits.  Then, they will see exhibit items relating to the story.  Finally, students will create a craft connected to the story and exhibit.  Teachers may select a tour theme i.e. Transportation, Water, Shoes, Rocks, Native American Heritage, Shapes, or Tools.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History

  
  
• We Have Work to Do!
  Pre-School – Kindergarten Accommodates up to 20 students Duration: 45 minutes
  Learn about tasks that travelers on the Oregon Trail performed and the many different jobs that Oregon’s Indians had and do. You will have the opportunity to look at artifacts, touch objects and listen to a story.
  Curriculum connections: Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography
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• Oregon’s First People: Then & Now
  

  3rd Grade

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 1 Hour

  Hear the story of Raven, and learn about the past and present lives of Oregon’s first people.  Additionally, your students can create their own basket design.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography-History-Civics & Government      

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• Explore Oregon My Oregon
  4th Grade
  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.
  Duration: 1 Hour
  Discover the inside of a Native American Cedar Plank House, explore European trade objects on a recreated Hudson’s Bay Company ship, and examine objects representative of those used on the Oregon Trail.
  Curriculum connections: Economics-Historical Skills-State & Local History-Geography-History-Civics & Government.
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• Primary Sources,The Real Thing
  

  8th Grade – High School

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups.

  Duration: 1 Hour – Exhibit Tour only 

                1 1/2 Hrs – Including Historic Photo Analysis Activity

  Analyze primary resource documents and objects in the exhibit, Oregon, My Oregon to learn more about Oregon’s past.  Tour includes an opportunity to analyze and use historic photos as primary sources.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History, Civics and Government

• Plus or Minus

  High School

  Gallery capacity is 45 students.  Call to make arrangements for larger groups

  Duration: 1 hour

  Investigate controversial issues in Oregon history.  Interpret the positive outcomes and the negative outcomes of historical events.

  Curriculum connections:

  Economics, Historical Skills, Geography, State and Local History, Civics and Government

Please inquire about special exhibition tours and programming.

• Heartfelt Welcome, The Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church, on display through January 3, 2010.  Celebrate 65 years of worship at one of the largest African-American churches in Portland.
• Becoming American, on display March 20, 2010 – May 30, 2010.  A collection of photographs celebrating naturalized citizens.
• Tall in the Saddle, on display March 5, 2010 – July 4, 2010. This exhibit will celebrate 100 years of the Pendleton Round-Up.
• Arte en la Charreria, on display July 31, 2010 – October 24, 2010. More than 120 examples of the excellent craftsmanship and design distinctive to the Mexican cowboy.

*Limited funds are available on "a first come first served basis" to assist qualified schools with student admission and/or bus fees.  Complete the application form in addition to the K-12 Tour Request Form and return them at least one month prior to requested tour date.  Submit forms to:  Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org

Application for Admissions and/or Bus Assistance (PDF)

Oregon My Oregon Teacher’s Guide is available on request.  Contact Gloria Rasmussen, 503.306.5251 or Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org.

Teacher pre-visits (one visit per teacher) to the Oregon Historical Society's exhibits are free, when you schedule a school tour.  Please contact Nicole Yasuhara, Lead Visitor Services Coordinator at 503.306.5238 or Nicole.Yasuhara@ohs.org for more information.

Once you have completed your docent-led tour, we recommend that you visit our other self-guided exhibits. Please check our website for information on current exhibits at the Oregon Historical Society.

If you have any questions regarding school tours at the Oregon Historical Society, please call 503.306.5238.

If you are interested in learning about Traveling Trunks and other Education materials and programs at the Oregon Historical Society, please contact Gloria Rasmussen at 503.306.5251 or Gloria.Rasmussen@ohs.org or visit the Oregon Historical Society's Education Web Page.

Thank you for your interest in the Oregon Historical Society. We look forward to your visit!