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!!

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!

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)

I was blown away. This is a must-see. I agree w/ many of the other five-star reviewers. I got to…read moremeet w/ the husband (his wife dealt w/ the next couple after us). He has obvious memory issues. I fear this won't be open for very much longer, so please see it ASAP if you can. VERY MUCH WORTH SEEING -- it is a reflection of a time gone by -- government would NEVER permit the sort of housing seen here. Astonishing to think what artistic works his father accomplished -- nowadays we can boast about Skyrim/Stardew Valley houses whereas he actually BUILT a house, painted numerous paintings, made the incredible stone Biblical "paintings" and all the other artistic endeavors.

What a unique experience it was to have a tour from the daughter of the man who constructed this…read moremuseum. It's truly amazing to think of how much love and hard work went into it. If you plan on going, give yourself a large chunk of time to just be there. There's lots to see and if you blink you just might miss something. I will be recommending this museum to other local visitors. So glad that I stopped! Hope to be back Even if you're not a rock hound I think you will still be impressed.

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.

When you walk in and go to the right corner, there's a tiny section over there about the Native…read moreAmericans who lived here before Westerners committed biopiracy and genocide. The first of about 10 informational photos says that the museum is trying to be more inclusive and aware of its history, but has all the photos of the Native Americans up a staircase you cant even access. And, it looks like most, if not all, of the photos were taken without this person's consent. It's very obvious that this section did not take any direction from a Native person, or do any research into considerations to be taken. How about mention of community efforts to reconstruct the Kalapuya dictionary? How about teaching about the agriculture they did here before colonization? How about teaching about Lane County's roles in the atrocities of residential schools? How about not putting the ONLY photos and mention of native people up in a corner you can't even access? How about showing examples of traditional dances done by Kalapuya and neighboring tribes? So f*ckin, daft, y'all. Do better. I understand that its a small museum, but you could at LEAST make the stairs available to view what you do have, even though its almost comical how obvious it is that these did not want their picture taken, or didn't know, like the blind woman standing outside her house- probably not knowing who tf was there or why. The Race for Change exhibit is phenomenal and takes up a very decent amount of space, that was awesome. The only reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of one is because of the effort put into the Race for Change exhibit, and the fiery and undeniable acknowledgments of KKK presence here in Eugene- which NEEDS to be taught about if our community wants to be a safe space.

I love pretty much anything to do with Oregon history, so my review maybe somewhat biased…read more.. Currently there is a hippie movement exhibit that is very well done but I believe it takes away from other important historical events. The pioneer section of the museum is definitely my favorite part. They have a number of horse-drawn wagons from various time periods. If you're in the area and want to know a little about Lane County stop by, or if you live here and don't know enough come check it out. Also it would definitely be a good place to take kids to teach them local history.

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.

Greetings Fairgoers! StevO reporting for KWTF Traffic in the…read moreGreater OCF area Porta potties have been making their debut in the neighborhood with many thanks from the local Great Unwashed. The arrival of 45,000 visitors has created huge lakes of vehicles in private fields and overwhelmed our local cell tower for our population of 5,000. Signal can be quite sketchy at times. Some travelers have been spotted in the local hardware store looking for bug spray. Some shopkeepers are leaving the shelves of deodorant, soap and mouthwash unlocked in hopes of petty theft. The early morning hours brought us a traffic jam on Hwy 126. Traffic was stalled from the gates of the fair all the way to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Even THIS exceptional reporter had to lay on the horn to prevent someone trying to pass me on the sidewalk in the only intersection in town. The lights became meaningless as vehicles were stopped in the middle of the intersection during light changes. Suttle Rd traffic has slowed significantly but is still manageable. New to the 'Fair Outside the Fair' this year are 25mph radar speed signs hanging over the standard 45mph placards on both Suttle and Territorial. This makes for a nice diversion and a good opportunity to calibrate your speedometer at 55mph, one can't be too sure.. On the lighter side.... This afternoon gave us a highly decorated madman with water pistols jumping out in the road and squirting cars, let's just hope it was water and that he can dodge in case a local shoots back. On Eastbound 126 there was a 3 wheel scooter speeding down the bicycle lane. Lucky for them there was one of Veneta's finest on that side of the road only too happy to celebrate this event with flashy lights! The intersection at Suttle and Territorial is once again turning into a game of Vehicle Mosh Pit as you see many sticker laden vehicles that are obviously low on blinker fluid. StevO signing off for KWTF Traffic, reminding everyone to stay cool and use sunscreen.

My 1st fair was 7 years ago. Within 10 minutes of being inside, a woman came up to me and said…read more"welcome home". If you understand what that means....leave the world behind a day and visit the fair.