Exhibits

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End of Longshore Strike, Blue Bell Tavern, Portland, Feb 5, 1937. Oregon Journal Photo, OPS #1745 OrHi 27630 bb007851

Current Exhibit

Barley, Barrels, Bottles, & Brews: 200 Years of Oregon Beer

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

The history of beer in Oregon and the passion Oregonians hold for beer and brewing extends back over two hundred years. This exhibition connects these moments in history, from the Lewis and Clark Expedition to early pioneer hop growers, from the nineteenth century European immigrants who established Oregon’s first breweries to the craft brewery revolution centered here today. The exhibit profiles the people, companies, and legislation that have combined over the years to make Oregon the innovative center of craft brewing that it is today.

  • Researchers
  • Teachers
Items from Meier and Frank Santaland on exhibit at OHS

Current Exhibit

Meier and Frank Santaland

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

Generations of Oregonians have fond memories of the downtown Portland Meier & Frank department store’s Santaland. A ride on the iconic Monorail and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap became a Christmas tradition for many families. Following the closure of Macy’s downtown store (which purchased Meier & Frank in 2005), a small number of items from Santaland were donated to the Oregon Historical Society and the Portland Business Alliance. This holiday season, come visit the OHS Santaland display, featuring Santa’s chair, Rudolph, animatronic elves, and decorated Christmas trees!

  • Family-friendly
  • Free for Members
Scans from the KOIN and the KPTV 16mm News Film Collections

Current Exhibit

Frames Per Second: Selections from the OHS 16mm News Film Collection, 1969-1981

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

The prints in this exhibit are scans from the KOIN and KPTV 16mm news film collections held at the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) Research Library. Every three frames of 16mm film represents 1/8 of a second — or just faster than the blink of an eye. These stories represent, in part, the day-to-day events that helped shape Portland from 1969 to 1981.

  • Free for Members
  • Family-friendly
  • Researchers
  • Teachers
OHS History vehicle

Current Exhibit

Pioneering Compassion: 150 Years at the Oregon Humane Society

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

Compassion runs deep in our community. For 150 years, the Oregon Humane Society has embodied each generation’s determination to save lives, stop suffering, and bring loving best friends to our families. Best known as a great place to find a furry best friend, Oregon Humane has helped our community overcome pet overpopulation, enact and enforce some of the nation’s strictest animal cruelty laws, educate generations of Oregonians about pet care, and fight with unrelenting diligence for the integrity of all animals. Come see how animal welfare has been at the heart of our community’s life and values since 1868.

  • Free for Members
  • Family-friendly
  • Researchers
  • Teachers
The Psychedelic Shop, a store that catered to the counterculture youth of Portland, was located downtown at SW Thirteenth and Washington in the late 1960s. The shop sold jewelry, concert tickets, herbs, posters, and clothing. 022772, bb002266

Current Exhibit

Portland Psychedelic: Music and Culture in the Rose City and Beyond, 1966 – 1972

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

Portland served as a common West Coast stop for touring bands in the 1960s and 1970s, with a number of nationally known musicians playing shows in the Rose City. Local music thrived at the same time, centered on psychedelic coffeehouses across Portland. Featuring posters, handbills, autographs, and other memorabilia representing bands including The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Buffalo Springfield, Portland Psychedelic includes over 100 objects recently donated to the Oregon Historical Society Research Library by donor Peter Glazer. Showcasing one of the largest collections of local poster and handbill art, the exhibit gives visitors a glimpse into the music and visual design that dominated the countercultural scene in Portland in the 1960s.

  • Free for Members
  • Researchers
Albert Patecky, Portland artist, in his home studio surrounded by his work as he selects some for a show. July 29, 1951, photo by William Grand. Oregon Journal collection, 013364

Current Exhibit

State of Abstraction: Works by Albert Patecky, Oregon Artist

Oregon Historical Society
1200 SW Park Ave
Portland, Oregon 97205

Albert Patecky was an Oregon artist distinguished by his abilities in both representational and non-objective art. He perfected both traditional landscapes and abstract geometric forms, balancing on the boundary between conventional and modern art forms. This exhibition brings together a number of pieces of Patecky’s artwork in the collection of the Oregon Historical Society, highlighting work throughout his career and including both figurative and non-objective pieces.

  • Family-friendly
  • Free for Members
  • Researchers
  • Teachers