854 results
David Thompson (1770-1857)
In the late 1840s, explorer and surveyor David Thompson wrote a journal of his travels over the past half century. He meticulously recorded his findings, …
Death of Meriwether Lewis
The death of Meriwether Lewis in the fall of 1809 has long been a subject shrouded in mystery and controversy. This much we know: on …
Debate Over Oregon Constitution
This document is an excerpt from a speech by Missouri congressman John B. Clarke in the U.S. House of Representatives supporting the admission of Oregon. …
Decision at the Marias River
In early June 1805, the Corps of Discovery found itself at a crossroads. The explorers were determined to make their way to the source of …
Della Cramer at Southern Pacific Rail Yard
On Oct. 7, 1942, the Oregon Journal published this photograph of Della Cramer working as a rivet heater at the Southern Pacific Railroad in the …
Demonstration of Ernst Well
In the early 1920s, the Oregon Bureau of Mines and Geology (OBMG) spent $40,000 drilling four test wells for water in the arid Fort Rock …
Dentalia Shell & Bead Necklace
This necklace is strung with dentalia shells and beads. Dentalium (Antalis pretiosum) are variously sized ocean mollusks that resemble miniature elephant tusks and may …
Detroit Project, Oregon
In the early 1930s, Willamette Valley business owners, residents, and politicians worked together to convince the federal government to develop a comprehensive plan for managing …
Dirigible Lands on Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 1905
This Sept. 26, 1905, photograph shows 18-year-old pilot Lincoln Beachey flying the “City of Portland” dirigible aircraft over the Oregonian building in downtown Portland as …
Discovery of Mastodon Remains near Dayton
This newspaper article describes the discovery of mastodon remains near Dayton by Joel Palmer(1810-1881), an influential Oregon pioneer. The article comes from an undated scrapbook, …Interpretive Essays
Interpretive essays use primary documents from the Oregon Historical Society archives to help readers imagine the events, people, and issues that shaped Oregon history.
