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!!

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)

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.

Went to visit the Harrisburg Museum for the first time today, and my what a gem! There is so much…read morelocal and national shared history and the diversity of artifacts curated for this collection is exquisite! The wood sculptures art room was an unexpected and amazing exhibit and I was in awe of how knowledgable and kind the guide who toured through was! My brother and I had a great time and it was excellent to learn that the guide works on many of the restoration projects associated with the equipment on-site. Absolutely worth the trip!

This is a great museum...rich in history and so much fun. So many things to look at! Tractors,…read morecars, seed machines, all kinds of tools. Don't miss the artwork of Mr. Wittmer, oh my gosh... To say he was an artist would be an understatement. If you like museums, you will love this place, far bigger that it looks like!

GETTING HERE:…read more (Traveling); located on the corner of 1st Street and Washington. It's right near Bryant Park and the Willamette River in Albany, OR. MOOD: Ready for some fun and laughter! I mean, it's a carousel! The next best thing to Disneyland. REVIEW: This is so cool! Bummed that we got there just a few moments before closing so I couldn't play tourist and shop the gift shop. :) But, we got to ride twice on the Carousel and it was fun! There's a ring toss/game of sorts but I wasn't able to figure it out. The Carousel is gorgeous! So pretty and while we were short on time and couldn't ask questions, I was able to infer that people sponsor(ed) the horses (for upkeep?) as there were gold plaques about a few of the horses. What a great opportunity to support historic Albany! Recommended! 10 stars and a must-do if in the Albany area of Oregon.

I've always loved carousel horses. I wanted a full size one for my dream living room when I was…read moreyoung. I did collected small carousel horse ornaments for my Christmas trees. So, when I realized Albany had a carousel with a museum I had to go. The place is amazing and more than horses. There is no entrance fee. I checked out the painting studio, then the carousel, with its snack bar. I saw all those animals featured on their website go round & round and up & down in three dimensional real life. I took lot of pictures and video. I joined a tour led by a volunteer. Learning about the local lady that started it all. Saw more carousel animals in basement along with the carving shop while three artists worked on future animals to be. I purchased a token to ride the carousel ($2) and nearly walked around the whole menagerie before deciding on an animal to sit upon. After debating salmon, elephant, orca, bear, zebra etc; I wound up on a horse named Calapooia. I didn't notice any xmas ornaments in the gift but I did buy a tee-shirt of Guardian the Hippocampus and a post card of Calapooia. They had post cards for all the animals on the carousel. I also got to press a penny while I still could. I had a great time. I was a kid again, all the people were happy. It was like visiting a small Disneyland. And for those happiest smiles I gladly left a donation for their future endeavors.

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!

Do not miss a visit to the Corvallis Museum! Great exhibits that are very well labeled. Nice gift…read moreshop, very helpful staff. Wonderful!!!

What a gem! Great museum with Corvallis history, interesting items. The goat man costume with film…read morefootage was the best!!!

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.