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!

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

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!

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