HISTORY WORK NEVER ENDS FOR THE CURIOUS

Doing history work where you live is the only way to get to your happy place.

Or at least you’ll know where you are.

The Oregon Historical Society’s downtown Portland history museum is just the place.

But first ask yourself, “Am I curious?”

If you read boomerpdx regularly, you pass the curious test.

Take this diving helmet for example.

It belonged to a diver who lived in Vernonia.

He was a big man confined to his bed with a wife who must have loved him very much.

Why? He was an ornery cuss, a grounded man of action.

He’d been on the job when the footings of the Interstate Bridge were poured; one of the first divers after the Vanport flood hired to bring up banking documents.

 

The bridge became part of Interstate 5 in 1957. Along with the new interstate system came a second parallel bridge, which opened to traffic in 1958 and required a toll for vehicles crossing the bridge.

 

His history work, historical work, are part of Oregon. A welcome part.

 

History Museum Historiography

Museums are culturally important because they stand for trust.

When a nation, a state, county, or town, have safe places to show and store the stuff left over from collectors and scavengers, it shows you’ve arrived at a certain level.

When museum supporters contribute their money and treasures, it’s a whole ‘nother story.

Where OHS started:

 

This was the plan for the future:

 

Here it is from yesterday:

Things have come a long way.

If you wonder how that works, it starts with the right man.

At the right time.

 

Right Man At The Right Time

Thomas Vaughan created an environment that promised results.

He was a fan of the blockbuster exhibit, the best example being the Magna Carta exhibit.

He was a champion of Oregon who seemed like he could do anything in the museum world.

Could he bring the big show?

Not only that, but he fund raised hard enough to support a full museum exhibit crew, buy a 160K square foot storage facility, and put his museum up with the national leaders of regional museums and state historical societies.

He was a big show all by himself, everything else was extra, and the staff took up the challenges.

 

This was the man who defined Role Model in the museum world.

That he took care in his personal presentation seeped into every department.

Senior staff worked to keep up, some better than others.

If you’ve visited any museums behind the scenes then you understand appearances.

The staff is not a sartorial example of any kind of fashion.

Sawmills have had similar style.

Thomas Vaughan knew the difference and chose to raise the ceiling.

He was a serious dandy in the best way possible and it trickled down.

 

Anyone sitting in this chair had better measure up.

Except, don’t sit in that chair when it’s on exhibit even if it looks inviting.

You’re in a museum.

 

125 Years In One Place

History museums start old and work to keep current.

OHS is no different.

It’s a museum, a gathering place, and a Portland Park Blocks anchor.

The Portland Monthly lays out a possible future for the city.

In the best of worlds, Portland’s will to get better, to Reimagine Portland’, will include OHS as a driving force.

Will Reimagine Oregon join in?

 

Nothing better says, “Portland Is What We Make It,” than knowing Portland history and what’s been tried before.

When things seem grim and the road ahead says Dead End, you need someone with a map, a vision.

You need someone who knows which exit to take to avoid plowing ahead toward the cliffs.

Who is that navigator? Where to begin? Start here.

 

Start Where?

I consider the Oregon History Museum my museum.

You should too.

It’s a history hub. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, at least you’ll find where to look.

History work never ends for the curious, and curiosity is what it takes to make a decision.

Decide to join OHS and you’re taking a step in the right direction.

Join in person. Drive downtown on a rainy day, park on the Park Blocks streets, and head inside.

Take a good look around on the way and you may find a microcosm of Portland.

Some of it you’ll like, some you won’t, but join up to make a difference.

Do that and you can call yourself a historian, a history fan, a history expert.

Join OHS and you may become curious enough to do some history work.

That’s when you start to reimagine Portland, reimagine yourself, and look for positive changes to make.

That’s when Portland becomes what you make it.

That’s when you see Portland for what it can be and not the urban disaster painted in Don’t Go There stories.

Besides, Portland gets a poor grade from Oregonians throughout the state who avoid any town with a stop light as too congested for them.

If they do come to Portland they are looking for proof of their preconceived notions of what to expect.

What are your great expectations?