In this Issue

- Special presentation "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley" by David Lewis Thursday, July 11th.

- New Daily Hours for the Summer! & Welcome Kendall Marr!

- Save the Date! Party at the Farm Fundraising Dinner & Auction, Sunday, Aug. 25th

- Living History in the Courtyard July 13th.

- Aurora Colony Days Biergarten, August 9th

- Aurora Colony Days Living History Day, August 10th

- New Quilt Block Challenge Theme - Coming July 18th!

Mini Biergarten & Presentation "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley" David Lewis

Thursday, July 11th at 6:30pm at the Old Aurora Colony Museum Courtyard. Suggested donation $8, members free.

Explore the untold indigenous history of the Willamette Valley. We are delighted to welcome you to our special mini biergarten with David Lewis, author of Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley.

Members will be entered into a raffle to win a copy of David's book.

Snacks and beverages available for purchase. Books will be available for purchase that evening or in advance at our Museum Gift Store. This event is open to all ages, so bring the whole family!

"The full history of those who have lived in the Willamette Valley since time immemorial is one that needs to be told, and David Lewis is exactly the right person to tell it. One of the preeminent scholars and writers of the history of Oregon's Indigenous people, David's 'Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley' brings to light a heretofore largely untold story of courage and resilience. It should be required reading for all who want to understand the true history of Oregon." - Kerry Tymchuk, Boyle Family Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society

To RSVP or for more information, visit our event page, email [email protected], or call 503-678-5754. Click to become a member today!

New Museum Hours!! Now Open Daily!

We are thrilled to announce that, starting Monday, July 1st, the Old Aurora Colony Museum will be open seven days a week with expanded weekday hours! This change will allow more visitors to experience our rich history and vibrant culture.

Our new hours of operation are as follows:

- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

In addition to our historical exhibits, our gift store now features an array of hand-crafted items unique to the area. These locally made products showcase the talent and creativity of our community artisans and make wonderful souvenirs or gifts. We look forward to continuing to expand our products, especially into the area of Aurora branded offerings. If you have product suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!

We are also excited to introduce a new product: the book "Tribal Histories of the Willamette" by David Lewis. To celebrate this addition, David Lewis will be presenting in our courtyard next Thursday, July 11, at 6:30 PM. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear from the author and learn more about the rich tribal histories of our region. More details are available at www.auroracolony.org/events.

Welcome - Kendall Marr New Front Desk Attendant

We are thrilled to introduce our new Front Desk Attendant, Kendall Marr! Kendall, who resides in Barlow, previously coordinated the Stauffer-Will Farm Field Trip program this spring where they shepherded over 3500 people through the Farm. Kendall will be a welcoming presence for our museum guests and will staff the museum store on Sundays. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Kendall!

New July Living History Day July 13th

Fun for all ages, step back in time in the museum courtyard. From blacksmithing, to weaving and spinning, quilting and more - see the past come to life in the historic outbuildings. Watch and engage with costumed interpreters as they go about typical daily activities of the mid- to late- 1800s.

Visit our Website

Save the Date: Sunday, August 25th at 4:30M

Party at the Farm: Annual Fundraising Dinner & Auction

Join us for an elevated dining experience at the farm featuring a catered dinner, complementary beverages and mingling among friends and fellow supporters of the Aurora colony historical society.

Visit our event website here for more information and to check back and explore the auction packages.

Learn More Here

Aurora Colony Days is Right Around the Corner

August 9th & 10th

More Info Here

Extended Dates: Journey Stories Explore

We are pleased to announce that the exhibit run of "Journey Stories" has been extended into October. Presented by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), this exhibit explores how travel has shaped America's economic and cultural identities. Featuring artifacts related to Aurora journeys, whether it's the journey that brought the Aurora Colony to Willapa, WA, and on to Aurora, Oregon, or artifacts related to the agriculture and tourism that Aurora Colonists and their descendants participated in, "Journey Stories" is a patchwork of tales woven over time. Don't miss this fascinating exploration of our shared history!

Coming in March: Cooking with the Stauffer-Will Farm Stove

Contact Siobhan to RSVP for date and time. All interested parties are welcome. In this session you will learn about the stove, its uses, and how to properly clean and maintain a fire.

The modern convenience of its day, these vintage stoves acted as water heater, furnace, stove top, oven, toaster, and more. Today the Stauffer-Will Farm stove dutifully bakes more than 3,000 rolls over the coarse of the 12-week field trip program.

Stauffer-Will Farm Field Trip Program

Another Record Breaking Year at the Farm!

We are excited to share an update on the Stauffer-Will Farm Field Trip program! This year, over 3,500 students, teachers, and chaperones visited the Farm. Following these educational visits, we also offered public days for the community. The Farm continues to grow back from the COVID years, and teachers consistently say this is the one field trip they never skip. We've received hundreds of letters and thank you cards from students sharing their favorite experiences. Stay tuned for new public days early next year. A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers and staff who make these programs possible!

Quilt Show Block Contest

Coming soon - a new Block Contest theme will be announced July 18th!

Mark your calendar, the next quilt show, "Stars Over Aurora" is scheduled for Friday, October 11th - Sunday, October 20th.

Event Calendar

Now-10/6 Exhibit: Journey Stories

Jul. 11 Mini Biergarten: "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley" David Lewis

Jul. 13 Living History in the Courtyard

Aug. 9 Aurora Colony Days Biergarten with Mark Seymoor & Friends

Aug. 10 Aurora Colony Days: Living History Day (demonstrations & hands-on activities)

Aug. 25 Party at the Farm: Annual Fundraising Dinner

Oct. 11-20 Stars Over Aurora Quilt Show