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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2015)
e xplor e LIKE A LOCAL MORE MUSEUMS Open the door to any one of Grant County’s museums, and you’ll find a portal to a magnificent past, with glimpses of the lives of hard rock miners, cowboys, rodeo riders, Chinese medicine men and the hardy pioneer families who settled this beautiful and challenging land. Grant County Genealogical Society The Grant County Genealogical Society has a research center in the old parsonage building behind the Historic Advent Church on West Main Street. Information available at the Research Center includes cemetery books, obituaries, marriages, births, old atlases and local family histories. There are also reference materials, how-to-books, resources from Oregon counties and other states, and some photos. Staff is available to assist with research and answer questions. 281 W Main, John Day 541-575-2757 or 541-932-4718 gcgsociety94@yahoo.com OPEN: 1 - 4 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturdays. Other times by appointment. Long Creek Historical Society The Long Creek Historical Society is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 corporation, striving to relocate the fort built by settlers during the Bannock Indian War of 1878, and build a permanent interpretive site and museum. All are welcome to the Long Creek Historical Society's meeting, the Fourth Friday of every month at 4 p.m. at City Hall. KATHY SMITH Museum director, Sumpter Valley Railway Depot/DeWitt Museum, Prairie City When it comes to enthusiasm and knowledge of local history, Kathy Smith ranks higher than most. In addition to her duties at the DeWitt Museum in Prairie City, she has worked for many years with The Friends of Kam Wah Chung and Company Museum in John Day. A resident of Grant County for 24 years, her love of Eastern Oregon dates back further to a trip here when she was just 9 years old. “I knew then that I wanted to live here. I have lived throughout many small towns in the past, but never any so friendly as Prairie City and John Day. I truly feel at home here.” What makes the Railway Depot and DeWitt Museum so special? “It was the only two-story railway depot on the Sumpter Valley line that started from Baker City and ended in Prairie City in 1933. The Depot is located on the original spot, and is now part of the SVRY-RV Park. “The DeWitt collection is extensive and, I feel, displayed in a very unique way. The second story contains the items to display the living quarters for the station agent and family. “Kind of makes you want to move in and enjoy the late 1800s and early 1900s lifestyle.” Recent upgrades include wifi for campers at the RV Park, and VISA capabilities at the museum gift store. “So even though we are all about history, we have joined the 21st century.” What’s life like in a small town like Prairie City? “Prairie City, though a small town, hosts several large events every year such as the Fourth of July pa- rade and fireworks, Kruzers Show N Shine car show in August, and Christmas on the Prairie in November.” And, of course, visitors can always check out the museum, which is open from mid-May through mid- October. “We have enough to see and enjoy in Grant County that could keep you busy for weeks.” Grant County Ranch and Rodeo Museum The Ranch and Rodeo Museum highlights local cowboys, past and present. The museum offers a collection of photos, tools, saddles and much more, showcasing the times of our cowboys and ranching history. The museum works to preserve the history of the cowboy. Long Creek, Oregon 541-421-3621 241 E Main, John Day 541-820-3624 or 541-575-0278 OPEN: May 1 - September 30, Thursday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment. ADMISSION: $3, children under 12 are free DeWitt Museum The goal of the Depot Museum is to house Oregon's most significant collection of narrow gauge railroad artifacts and historic documents. Artifacts in the depot's current collection include many photographs of life along the rail line, visual depictions of some of the spectacular wrecks on this steep and dangerous section of the rail- road, various lanterns, lights, and physical artifacts collected along the line itself. Grant County Historical Museum The museum exhibits include a focus on the lives of the pioneers who first came to the area, the Joaquin Miller Cabin and the jail from the town of Greenhorn. There are gold mining artifacts, Chinese artifacts, three large rock collections and much, much more. Beyond the old relics, there are extensive files of old newspaper clippings, letters, paper items and over 5,000 old photographs. 425 S Main, Prairie City 541-820-3330 or 541-820-3605 dewittmuseum@ortelco.net OPEN: Mid May - Mid October, Wednesday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. ADMISSION: $3, children under 12 are free 101 S Canyon Blvd., Canyon City 541-575-0362 OPEN: May 1 - September 30, Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ADMISSION: Ages 18-62 $4; ages 62+ $3, ages 7-17 $2, 7 & under free.
