Oregon
- Where Past is Present
Experience 15,000 years of Northwest cultural history and 200 million
years of geology. Realistic environmental displays portray four geographic
regions of Oregon, each a different time in history.
The Great
Basin environment portrays an autumn, 6,000 years ago, when the
area we now know as desert, bloomed with abundance. View a traditionally
made wikiup and a cache of tui chubs, a food staple.
One of North
America's largest Native fishing and trading centers at Celilo Falls
is illustrated in the Columbia Plateau environment during the
summer fishing season some 250 years ago. Observe up close the span
of a fishing net used at the Falls for over 10,000 years.
A highlight
of the Pacific Coast environment is a three-dimensional replica
of a traditional winter plank house, situated in village at the mouth
of an inland estuary around 1,500 years ago.
In the Western
Valleys, view a mural of Native women gathering camas roots during
the spring harvest, in a valley surrounded by an oak savanna and a
pine forest some 1,000 years ago.
Murals of these
four regions have been painted by Don Prechtel, an Oregon artist known
for historically accurate paintings of the Western frontier and Native
American culture. You can find more information on Don at www.prechtelfineart.com.
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Scientific
at the Core
Explore an
interactive laboratory that offers hands-on science-based activities
for visitors of all ages. Discover how to relate to science through
these four questions: What is it? How old is it? Where was it found?
How was it used?
Scientific at the Core also
provides mini-exhibits on the most current museum research.
When visiting find out what's new in Science in the News - The History
Mystery.
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Current
Exhibits (click on the links below for more
information about each exhibit)
Shall We Dance? - Photographs by Brian Lanker (June 25 - July 12, 2009)
Coastal Light - Photographs by Bob Sanov (June 25 - November 1, 2009)
World Harmony-Musical Instruments From Around the Globe (June 25, 2009 - January 3, 2010)
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Shall We Dance? - Photographs by Brian Lanker
View this special showing in the museum’s new galleria.
Open every day, Thursday, June 25 - Sunday, July 12, 2009 during the Oregon Bach Festival.
From the controlled beauty of classical ballet to the vivacity of salsa, dance can be found in nearly every culture on Earth. Shall We Dance is the result of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Lanker's year of travel across the United States, documenting the huge variety of styles (from tap to tango, salsa to swing) and the dancers he encountered. Shall We Dance celebrates dance's diversity of culture and capacity to express every emotion imaginable.
Images of dancers across city skyline
Brian Lanker
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Coastal Light - Photographs by Bob Sanov
June 25 through November 1, 2009
“I especially love the element of non-reality inherent to the black and white image, along with the poetic and somewhat mystical aura it creates.” ~ Bob Sanov
This Northwest Artist Gallery exhibit is a culmination of a vision the artist has been pursuing since retiring from a professional career in music and moving to Florence, Oregon in 2002. Sanov’s use of the medium of black and white photography reflects his personal focus on the dynamic effects of the light itself.
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World Harmony-Musical Instruments From Around the Globe
June 25, 2009 through January 3, 2010
Is music a universal language? What is an instrument? What is considered beautiful music?
Every culture in the world makes music - there is a great diversity of traditions, as well as many commonalities. Explore musical instruments from many continents and learn about the people who use them and the role music plays in their cultures. Watch videos of master musicians demonstrating instruments from India, Ireland, Japan, Zimbabwe, and Oregon. Visitors also have a chance to try their musical talents on a range of instruments.
Exhibit Opening - World Harmony Project Weekend
Thursday, June 25, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Click here to see a sample web gallery with images and sounds from this exhibit!
Images: Bowl Lyre (krar) and Slit Drum or Slit Gong (paté)
Photographs by: Chris White
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In
the Museum Theater weekends
at 1:00 and 3:00 P.M.
View
a select film related to natural and cultural history.
June
Oregon
Experience:
Bill Bowerman
2007,
29 min
Bill
Bowerman was the head track coach at the University of Oregon for
twenty-four years and is considered one of the greatest track coaches
the world has ever known. Using archival materials and interviews
with family and former students, Oregon Experience looks at the remarkable
life of this legendary coach and co-founder of NIKE.
July
Oregon
Experience:
Road to Statehood
2009,
30 min
In
1859, Oregon became the 33 rd state in the Union . Road to Statehood
celebrates Oregon's 150 th birthday by exploring the lives of Native
peoples already living here and the missionaries determined to change
them, the mountain men and fur trappers who came for adventure and
wealth and the pioneers who brought their hopes and prejudices with
them over the Oregon Trail.
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