Not only is Oregon full of amazing natural beauty, it's also full of fascinating history. From shipwrecks to Oregon Trail landmarks, check out these 13 incredible historic places in Oregon:
13. The Pittock Mansion
Located in the hills overlooking Portland, the Pittock Mansion is a fantastic, well-preserved mansion dating back to 1909 and open to visitors.
12. The Peter Iredale shipwreck
Once an enormous ship, the amazing Peter Iredale's remnants are located on the Oregon Coast near Hammond. See this amazing slice of history for yourself.
11. Kam Wah Chung Heritage Site
The Kim Wah Chung Heritage Site is a unique museum in John Day that offers visitors the chance to step inside an amazingly preserved Chinese apothecary built in the 1870s.
10. The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Near the lovely town of Baker City, you'll find The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This historical site not only provides interesting information and fascinating reenactments, you can see the actual ruts from the wagons.
9. Columbia River Maritime Museum
Located near the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, this unique maritime museum is home to some fantastic exhibits and the famous ship 'Columbia', which is itself a National Historic Landmark.
8. Pioneer Courthouse and the Portland Pioneer Square
This central square in Portland is a great place to hang out and really get a glimpse of the city. This historic square has built-in chess tables, amazing architecture, and it also happens to be a great place for people watching.
7. Timberline Lodge
Located near the summit of the mighty Mt Hood is the wonderful and cozy Timberline Lodge, which is listed as a National Historic Landmark. This is a great place to stay the night during a ski retreat or to just to have a delicious meal in an amazing wooden lodge.
6. The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park at Fort Clatsop
During their journey, Lewis and Clarke spent a winter at this beautiful site in Fort Clatsop. Today, you can learn about their trip and day-to-day life as well as walk where they walked and see some of their living conditions recreated.
5. Tillamook Air Museum
This amazing aviation museum near Tillamook is located inside an enormous World War 2 blimp hangar, which happens to be the biggest clear span wooden structure in the world.
4. The Oregon State Capitol Building
The Oregon State Capitol Building, located in the lovely city of Salem, was built in 1936 and is a wonderful place to check out.
3. The entire downtown area of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Oregon, is a lovely old gold mining town that's home to some of the oldest buildings in Oregon. The entire downtown of this charming city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Fort Astoria (AKA Fort George)
This incredible fort on the Columbia River near Astoria was the Pacific Fur Company's main trading post. Built in 1811, this fascinating place changed hands multiple times throughout the years and managed to be both the first American owned settlement on the Pacific Coast AND the first British port on the Pacific Coast.
1. The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
Located in Oregon City, this wonderful interpretive center is the same spot where the Oregon Trail officially ended. Here, you can discover all kinds of amazing information about the Oregon Trail through reenactments, multi-media exhibits, and more.
What are some other amazing historical places in Oregon?
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