Historic, Cultural, & Artistic Sites
This museum shares stories of the town, including its maritime era when Huntington was a home post for two sternwheelers that plied the waters of the Snake River.
Huntington, OR
Telling Our Community Story thru Western Memorabilia, Local Pioneer Artifacts, Historic Collections
Haines, OR
As the oldest continuously operating art centers east of Cascades, Crossroads continue to evolve and grow as one of the finest regional art centers in Oregon.
Baker City, OR
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center offers living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhibits, multi-media presentations, special events, and more than four miles of interpretive trails. The 500 acre site includes remnants of the historic Flagstaff Gold Mine, actual ruts carved by pioneer wagons, and magnificent vistas of the historic trail route.
Temporarily closed for renovations. Exhibit housed at Baker Heritage Museum.
Constructed in the 1889, the Italianate-style home was the residence of local entrepreneur and philanthropist, Leo Adler, for 94 years until his passing in 1993.
Baker City, OR
Small museum complex featuring a collection of historic mining equipment, farming tools and homesteading utensils. The museum is noted for it mounted animal exhibit including the largest Rocky Mountain Elk ever taken in Pine Valley. The exhibit includes blacksmith’s tools, information about the nearby ghost town of Cornucopia and information about former gold mine operations.
Halfway, OR
Presently, the museum is a two-story interpretive collection of Baker County’s history, specifically from the 1860s through 1960s. Core exhibits in the museum include Baker County industries (logging, ranching, and mining), historical Baker City, Wally Byam’s Airstream experience, Chinese heritage, native and non-native wildlife, and a collection of regional Native American artifacts, including stone tools.
Baker City, OR
Essentially a ship on dry land, the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge unearthed the valley in search of gold, leaving piles of debris in its wake. Visitors are welcome aboard the dredge May – October. About 1.5 miles of trails wind through the park wetlands. Stop at one of several viewing platforms for a glimpse into how nature has reclaimed the valley over the past 50 years.
Sumpter, OR
All aboard for a trip back in time! When planning a summer visit to northeast Oregon, be sure to add the Sumpter Valley Railroad to your travel itinerary. History comes to life aboard the vintage trains as you travel through the heart of gold country in the scenic Sumpter Valley.
McEwan and Sumpter, OR
The museum contains a wide variety of important artifacts from Sumpter’s Gold Rush mining, timber, and railroad heritage.
Sumpter, OR
President’s Message
The Baker County (Oregon) Historical Society was founded in 1946 and is rebooting itself as we come out of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Sadly, the Historical Society lost numerous volunteers in the last few years and a group of museum partners have stepped forward to move the organization forward. Our goal is to stabilize the organization and to bring new volunteers onboard to help take the reins.
We are rebooting our membership program, updating our organizational structure, and increasing engagement on our committees.
For the next 10 years or more we will likely be focused on improvements to the Baker City Chinese Cemetery whose care is entrusted to us. The late Virginia Kostol left Baker Historical Society an annual gift to care for the cemetery. We must work with the property| owner, Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association to do more than care for the site, but to interpret and share the stories of this critical part of Baker County History.
We also hope to continue and expand the work of books that tell the stories of Baker County’s rich history and to expand the information shared with the public about cemeteries and other historical sites in Baker County.
– Ginger Savage | BCHS President | Executive Director Crossroads Carnegie Art Center
Welcome to the Baker County Historical Society
Located in Baker City
The Baker County Historical Society has been preserving the past for future generations since 1946 and continue to share with the people of Baker County and visitors to the area with the Oregon Trail Regional Museum. Baker County’s past is a treasure trove of history, the museum provides a showcase of these precious memories, photographs and artifacts. The continued growth of the Museum, Cemetery Preservation, and the History of Baker County is our goal for the future.
Monthly Meeting
Third Mondays at 5:30 pm
Oregon Trail Regional Museum
Public Welcome
Board of Directors
Ginger L. Savage – President
Cammy Warner – Vice President
Jean Simpson – Secretary
Mary Jane Guyer – Treasurer
Members at Large
Teresa McQuisten
Grace Hardy
Casey Taylor
Emeritus Officers
Jessie Ritch
Valerie Oman
Mac Kerns
Contact
Baker Heritage Museum
2480 Grove St, Baker City
PO Box 83, Baker City, OR, 97814
BakerCoHistSociety@gmail.com
(541) 523-5993
Passport
Your guide to cultural centers in Baker County
Click here to download
Welcome to the Baker County Historical Society
Located in Baker City
The Baker County Historical Society has been preserving the past for future generations since 1946 and continue to share with the people of Baker County and visitors to the area with the Oregon Trail Regional Museum. Baker County’s past is a treasure trove of history, the museum provides a showcase of these precious memories, photographs and artifacts. The continued growth of the Museum, Cemetery Preservation, and the History of Baker County is our goal for the future.
Monthly Meeting
Third Mondays at 5:30 pm
Oregon Trail Regional Museum
Public Welcome
Board of Directors
Ginger L. Savage – President
Cammy Warner – Vice President
Jean Simpson – Secretary
Mary Jane Guyer – Treasurer
Members at Large
Teresa McQuisten
Grace Hardy
Casey Taylor
Emeritus Officers
Jessie Ritch
Valerie Oman
Mac Kerns
Contact
Baker Heritage Museum, 2480 Grove St, Baker City
PO Box 83, Baker City, OR, 97814
BakerCoHistSociety@gmail.com
(541) 523-5993
Historic & Cultural Sites
This museum shares stories of the town, including its maritime era when Huntington was a home post for two sternwheelers that plied the waters of the Snake River.
Huntington, OR
Telling Our Community Story thru Western Memorabilia, Local Pioneer Artifacts, Historic Collections
Haines, OR
As the oldest continuously operating art centers east of Cascades, Crossroads continue to evolve and grow as one of the finest regional art centers in Oregon.
Baker City, OR
The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center offers living history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhibits, multi-media presentations, special events, and more than four miles of interpretive trails. The 500 acre site includes remnants of the historic Flagstaff Gold Mine, actual ruts carved by pioneer wagons, and magnificent vistas of the historic trail route.
Temporarily closed for renovations. Exhibit housed at Baker Heritage Museum.
Constructed in the 1889, the Italianate-style home was the residence of local entrepreneur and philanthropist, Leo Adler, for 94 years until his passing in 1993.
Baker City, OR
Small museum complex featuring a collection of historic mining equipment, farming tools and homesteading utensils. The museum is noted for it mounted animal exhibit including the largest Rocky Mountain Elk ever taken in Pine Valley. The exhibit includes blacksmith’s tools, information about the nearby ghost town of Cornucopia and information about former gold mine operations.
Halfway, OR
Presently, the museum is a two-story interpretive collection of Baker County’s history, specifically from the 1860s through 1960s. Core exhibits in the museum include Baker County industries (logging, ranching, and mining), historical Baker City, Wally Byam’s Airstream experience, Chinese heritage, native and non-native wildlife, and a collection of regional Native American artifacts, including stone tools.
Baker City, OR
Essentially a ship on dry land, the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge unearthed the valley in search of gold, leaving piles of debris in its wake. Visitors are welcome aboard the dredge May – October. About 1.5 miles of trails wind through the park wetlands. Stop at one of several viewing platforms for a glimpse into how nature has reclaimed the valley over the past 50 years.
Sumpter, OR
All aboard for a trip back in time! When planning a summer visit to northeast Oregon, be sure to add the Sumpter Valley Railroad to your travel itinerary. History comes to life aboard the vintage trains as you travel through the heart of gold country in the scenic Sumpter Valley.
McEwan and Sumpter, OR
The museum contains a wide variety of important artifacts from Sumpter’s Gold Rush mining, timber, and railroad heritage.
Sumpter, OR
President’s Message
The Baker County (Oregon) Historical Society was founded in 1946 and is rebooting itself as we come out of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Sadly, the Historical Society lost numerous volunteers in the last few years and a group of museum partners have stepped forward to move the organization forward. Our goal is to stabilize the organization and to bring new volunteers onboard to help take the reins.
We are rebooting our membership program, updating our organizational structure, and increasing engagement on our committees.
For the next 10 years or more we will likely be focused on improvements to the Baker City Chinese Cemetery whose care is entrusted to us. The late Virginia Kostol left Baker Historical Society an annual gift to care for the cemetery. We must work with the property| owner, Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association to do more than care for the site, but to interpret and share the stories of this critical part of Baker County History.
We also hope to continue and expand the work of books that tell the stories of Baker County’s rich history and to expand the information shared with the public about cemeteries and other historical sites in Baker County.
– Ginger Savage | BCHS President | Executive Director Crossroads Carnegie Art Center
Baker County Historic Books
Available at Betty’s Book & Baker Heritage Museum
Howard Brooks has written a factual account of gold mining in the Blue Mountains complete with hundreds of historic photos and production statistics. Great reading for those interested in mining history. 200 pages.
Compiled and edited by Eloise Dielman this book contains short stories about Baker County memories and a bit about the history. It provides wonderful photos both historic and recent of the different areas around Baker County including some aerial views with several photos in full color. 125 pages.
Dr James R Evans relates the history of education in Baker County and North Powder. It includes wonderful photos and reading about the various schools in the county from one room to large facilities. The book provides graduation lists from 1891 through 2006 for Baker County High Schools, Parochial schools and North Powder High School. 247 pages.
Isaac Hiatt explores the History of Baker County from 1861 until 1893. It is fascinating reading about the discovery of gold and the settling of the area by tough pioneers and adventuresome miners. Great photos of the early years are included. 108 pages.