Amazing museum that encompasses cultural history of Oregon, impact of climate change on Oregon, how…read moreplate tectonics formed the state of Oregon... The current exhibit on the history of Chinese immigrants in Oregon is absolutely amazing. Exhibits are relatable, easy to understand and make a connection to for ages late elementary and older. Spent almost two hours here; well worth the $7 general admission fee

Coming from Washington, D.C., I'm used to big, world class museums with free admission. This museum…read moreis small and cost $6, but it's worth a visit nonetheless. The museum itself is on one level that wraps around, but the exhibits tell a unique story. A few notable stops is the world's oldest shoes on display. The exhibit about the Chinese immigrant community is an important stop. There's a gift shop in the front and clean restrooms. Staff are very helpful and passionate.

We were visiting Brownsville, OR, and my wife loves to collect magnets from everywhere we go. While…read moredriving through town, we noticed the Linn County Historical Museum was open and what immediately caught our attention were the actual train cars on either side of the building. Naturally, we parked and went inside. This place is packed with history. Founded in 1962, the museum is housed in Brownsville's original railroad depot and includes six Southern Pacific railcars. The exhibits do a great job telling the stories of the region's Native peoples, Oregon Trail emigrants, Black and white pioneer settlers, and the early families of Linn County. One of the highlights was learning that one of the boxcars has been converted into a 29-seat theater known as the Boxcar Theatre. Another fun surprise was how prominently Stand By Me is recognized throughout the museum and the surrounding area. Many scenes from the movie were filmed nearby, and seeing that brought back a lot of memories from our own childhoods. Overall, this was a really cool and unexpected experience. And of course, my wife found exactly what she was hoping for, a Linn County magnet to add to her collection. Highly worth the stop if you're anywhere near Brownsville.

Loved this cute little town, it's like stepping into a hallmark movie. We passed the quilt shop and…read morethere were ladies sitting around a table talking and knitting. You don't see this kind of things these days. We loved the museum it took us back to the pioneer era. It was well maintained and so much to look at. It was great to see the actual equipment used. I highly recommend the detour to check this out!!

Not much to see in this Museum…read more I really appreciate that there is an organization devoted to preserving Springfield's beginnings, though. Unfortunately, I can't help but compare this museum to Brownsville, (population under 2,000) and wonder why there's so little to tell in Springfield (population over 60,000). The building is great, I must say, (but has no handicapped access) and the floor space is limited, so maybe that's one reason. There were random cases here and there with objects in them, a dressmakers dummy with a Victorian style dress, a few household items and a temporary exhibit with nice quilts displayed here and there. Upstairs there is a ridiculous Simpsons display area. I'm glad Matt Groening finally admitted that this is the Springfield he was thinking of when he created the television show, but find the fiberglass display quite garish and un-historical. I just didn't get any hint of why Springfield is here, other than the photo showing the location of the spring (The spring that gave the name to Springfield) is (under an apartment building on B street). I was thinking about the wood industries here, Dorris Ranch, the large population of Latinos, the proximity to Eugene and how the people there refer to Springfield down their noses ("Springtucky") and what has been done to create an identity that speaks directly to the actual current population besides one photo of a local native tribe? What about the ferry that used to link Springfield with Eugene? I realize the whole "Simpsons" connection is to draw in visitors, and I suppose this has been successful to some degree, but I did find this pretty empty of local history. This makes me sad, as the volunteers who run the place are well-meaning and nice.

as far as research and knowledge the Springfield museum is a must. if you are interested in…read moreSpringfield's history. if you ask a question they will help you I was on a hunt for old photographs and they were incredibly helpful and resourceful.

Very small but diverse collection. One of the galleries was closed, so even smaller…read more Only $5 admission

First- check out their website for free days. It's only $5 but that's a barrier for some & they…read morehave monthly first Friday as well as other days free. Second. This museum is excellent -& I admit, I've been misrepresenting it. Pre Covid I went to a show and was deeply underwhelmed.This past weekend while visiting, I ran into an acquaintance and we both commented "did they change something? Wasn't this kind of a meh experience before?" Maybe they got the bigger Schnitzer collection out? New curators? I don't know what happened but it was GREAT. New works are top notch Japanese & Korean collections are small but stellar Contemporary & modern North American artists very broad and high quality choices. Single user bathroom on the second floor also a big winner as is the elevator and the tiny but compelling gift shop. Kudos all around (Wish the cute cafe would open back up. Fingers still crossed)

Went to visit this historic mill, Thompson Mills Flour Mill. Definitely worth a visit and a short…read moreday trip from Portland. I never even knew this place existed until my wife happened to find it on the Oregon State Parks website. There's no signage from the highway or nearby local roads, so you really have to be intentionally looking for it--you won't just stumble upon it while driving through the countryside. It's tucked away just outside of Tangent/Corvallis, which makes it feel like a true hidden gem. The guided tour was excellent and incredibly informative. Our guide did a great job walking us through the history of the mill, how it operated, and the many roles it played over the years. They even turned on some of the equipment to demonstrate how things worked, which really brought the history to life. We learned about land rights issues, the origins of the nearby town of Shedd, and that the mill was originally called Boston Mills after its owner who was from Boston--at a time when Portland itself could have ended up being called Boston (remember the famous coin toss). Fascinating stuff. There are authentic items on display from the 1800s and early 1900s, which added to the immersive experience. The mill is no longer operational and is preserved strictly for historical purposes, but that's exactly what makes it such a worthwhile visit. If you enjoy Oregon history or unique off-the-beaten-path experiences, this place is absolutely worth checking out. In the Fall (October), they do cider pressing so I might have to go back.

We had a delightful time exploring this place. Ranger Rye and the Volunteer were outstanding. The…read moreextra attention that they gave us was so very appreciated. The demonstrations helped make the Mill "come alive" for us. Thank you!

I am so happy something went in on this side of Eugene/Springfield! So much closer to home, I love…read moreit! Nice store, nice selections, a little pricey if not on sale, but I think everything is getting like that Just happy the store is so much more convenient! Thank you

Really great addition to the Thurston area. In addition to being a feed store for livestock they…read morealso have clothes, tools, guns, fishing stuff, gardening stuff, etc. They updating the building nicely after being vacant for many years. Lots of parking and nice new shopping carts.

What a fun place to visit. There are hands-on exhibits as well as viewing exhibits. The blimp…read morehangar is amazing to see as well. Highly recommend if you are looking for interesting places to visit on the coast.

Great collection of aircraft and it was housed in two large hangers. What really made the visit…read morememorable and enjoyable were the docents who were very knowledgeable about the items on display. Thank you, Joan and Daniel! This would be a great place for school field trips.

It's like a miniature farmer's market! Beautiful fresh veggies, yummy baked goods, lovely craft…read moreitems from local artists (pottery, jewelry, hats, soaps, lotions, etc). Only open part of the year but if you are driving through (on the way to Eugene or Corvallis) -- a really fun place to visit and shop.