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Oregon Resource Guide

Online Resources

Library Booklists

Megasites

Oregon State Legislature Kid's Page: http://landru.leg.state.or.us/kids/home.htm

Oregon History

Oregon History Megasites
Portland History
Regional information (Oregon counties & Multnomah County cities)
Northwest Native American Tribes
Oregon Biographies

Oregon History Megasites

The Oregon Encyclopedia: http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/

"The Oregon Encyclopedia, an authoritative compendium of information on Oregon people, places, events, and institutions. Over the next several months, culminating in 2009 as part of Oregon's State Sesquicentennial, the Encyclopedia will grow to contain thousands of entries on Oregon history and culture written by knowledgeable authors, reviewed by experts, and meticulously checked to ensure accuracy."
Oregon History Project: http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/

An online resource for learning about Oregon's past. Links to Oregon history, biography, and historical records as well as digitized lesson plans.
Oregon Historic Photograph Collections: http://photos.salemhistory.net/

From the Salem Public Library, Oregon State Archives, and the Marion County Historical Society, view over 10,000 photographs in an electronic photo database. The images date from the mid-1800s to the 1990s and depict a wide range of subjects such as Oregon towns, homes, businesses, occupations, scenic vistas, disasters, festivities, and recreational pursuits. Search by name or event."
Oregon Historical Society: http://www.ohs.org/

General information, exhibitions, collections, and education.
Echoes of Oregon History, 1837-1859: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/echoes/defaultechoes.html

Oregon territorial history summary and chronology of events as well as Oregon territory historical documents.
Historical Gazette: http://www.aracnet.com/~histgaz/

Published in Portland, Oregon, this paper presents historic stories and news from Oregon's past.
History of Oregon Names: http://www.webtrail.com/applegate/names.shtml

Animal names, creeks and disasters, colorful incidents and Josephine County names.
Oregon Facts: Interesting Names and Places in Oregon: http://www.webtrail.com/applegate/oregon.shtml

Includes Oregon timeline, Oregon name controversy, Oregon name oddities, where Oregon names originated, and the history of Oregon names.
Oregon State Archives: 50th Anniversary Exhibit: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/50th/50thintro.html

The Oregon State Archives provides a background on key personalities, events, and structures from Oregon history.
Oregon State Archives: Web Exhibits and Projects: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/banners/exhibits.htm

Learn about Oregon history from the Oregon State Archives: tour the Archives, view photographs of Oregon history.
The Oregon Territory: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/ortrail.htm

Pioneers of the Oregon Territory up to and including 1855. This site includes missionaries, Native Americans, explorers, fur traders, French Canadians, and more.
Columbia River Gorge: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Washington/ColumbiaRiver/framework.html

History of the Gorge, volcanic history, maps and images, and more.
Oregon Volcanoes and Volcanic Areas: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Oregon/framework.html

Volcanic history, hazards and seismicity of Oregon mountains.
Columbia River History: http://www.nwcouncil.org/history/

History of the river, rivers, forts, bridges and more all along the Columbia River from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
Historic Columbia River Highway: http://www.traveloregon.com/Explore-Oregon/Mt-Hood-Columbia-River-Gorge/Trips-We-Love/The-Historic-Columbia-River-Highway.aspx

History of this historic Oregon road, including photographs, maps, and descriptions.
Northwest Missionaries: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/missions.htm

Brief information about the various missionaries of the Northwest.
VanNatta Logging History Museum of Northwest Oregon: http://www.vannattabros.com/histlog.html

Information about the history of the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest.
The Political Graveyard: Geographic Index to Cemetaries in Oregon: http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/OR/kmindex.html

Summary of politicians' public offices, where they were born and died and what cemetery they were buried in. Maps of the neighborhoods surrounding the cemeteries are available.
Oregon Territory and Its Pioneers: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/ortrail.htm

Summary of the provisional government,trades and pioneers in Oregon territories.
A Short History of a Long Journey, by John B. Wyeth: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/jwyeth.html

An account of an Oregon expedition in 1833.
Sold in Oregon: Historical Oregon Trademarks: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/tm/home.htm

A historic look at commerce from Oregon.
Oregon at War: The World War I and the Oregon Experience: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/exhibits/war/

Oregon during World War I.
Pearl Harbor Remembered: Oregonians and the Attack on Pearl Harbor: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/exhibits/pearl/pearl.htm

A local look at this historic event.
This Land - Oregon: http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/narratives/

A narrative history of Oregon.
The Oregon Story: http://education.opb.org/programs/oregonstory/

This site explores Oregon's ever-changing social, cultural and economic relationships with the land.
The Oregon Treaty June 15, 1846: http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/two/oretreat.htm

Text of the Oregon Treaty.

Biographies

Oregon Biographies: http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/Oregon-Biographies-index.cfm

Brought to you by the Oregon History Project and the Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Biographies features intriguing stories and engaging information related to some of Oregon's most significant historical figures.
Governors of Oregon: http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/govnew3.htm

Biographies and information about the governors of Oregon, provided by the Oregon State Library.
Golden Pioneer Statue at the Oregon Capitol: http://www.oregonlink.com/goldenpioneer/

Biographies and information about the governors of Oregon, provided by the Oregon State Library.
Grant County Biographies: http://gesswhoto.com/grantgenealogy.html

Biographies of several pioneers of Grant County, Oregon.
Narrations and Interviews: http://gesswhoto.com/narrations.html

Several oral histories of pioneer people and happenings in Oregon.
Notable Oregonians: http://www.sos.state.or.us/bbook/notable/nothome.htm

Short biographies of notable Oregonians. When possible, images are included.
Oregon Governors: http://gesswhoto.com/gov.html

Biographies and information about all the governors of Oregon.
Oregon Pioneer Biographies: http://www.rootsweb.com/~orgenweb/pioneerbios.html

The Oregon Pioneer List is a list of settlers to Oregon who migrated to or were born in Oregon prior to 1900.
The Barlow Family and Their Pioneer Toll Road: http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/barlowrd.htm

The Barlow house, the road and its history, and a summary of necessary provisions needed to reach Oregon territory.
The Oregon Territory and Its Pioneers: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/ortrail.htm

Pioneers of the Oregon Territory up to and including 1855. This website includes missionaries, Native Americans, explorers, fur traders, French Canadians, and more.
Abigail Scott Duniway, woman's rights advocate: http://www.aracnet.com/~histgaz/abigail.htm

From the Historical Gazette, advocate for women's right to vote in Oregon.
Dr. John McLoughlin: Father of Oregon: http://gesswhoto.com/mcloughlin.html

Biography of John McLoughlin.
Marcus Whitman, Narcissa Whitman: http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/s_z/whitman.htm

Biographies of the Whitmans.
The Whitman Massacre by Mary Marsh Cason: http://gesswhoto.com/whitman.html

Oral history of the Whitman Massacre.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/whmi/

Summary of the mission.