Oregon Military Museum

Last updated
Oregon Military Museum
Oregon Military Museum - 2023 (52722363114).jpg
Main building
USA Oregon location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Oregon
Established1975
Location Camp Withycombe, Oregon
Coordinates 45°24′40″N122°33′32″W / 45.4112°N 122.5590°W / 45.4112; -122.5590
Type Military museum
DirectorKathleen Sligar
ArchitectDon Stastny
Website oregonmilitarymuseum.org

The Oregon Military Museum (OMM) at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas County, Oregon, honors, shares, and preserves Oregon's military heritage and legacy, including the Oregon National Guard, the state's early militias, and all branches of the US Armed Forces. The museum's main building includes the drill floor, weapons, and temporary galleries for permanent and rotating exhibits, as well as the Conference Classroom, Museum Store, Hall of Valor, and the Thomas E. Withycombe Library. Surrounding the main building, the Historic Park, open seasonally, includes two historic buildings, the Quartermaster Storehouse and the Battery A Field Artillery Horse Barn, as well as an outdoor tracked vehicle display.

Contents

The mission of the Oregon Military Museum is:

To inspire and educate visitors about Oregon’s military heritage and legacy to include the National Guard, the state’s early militia, and all branches of the Armed Forces.

To meet its professional stewardship obligations for the historical artifacts and archives entrusted to its care.

History

In 1975, the Oregon Military Department established the Oregon Military Museum (OMM) as the official state repository for military weapons, documents, and artifacts relating to the military history of Oregon's citizens. As the result of a massive base realignment process (BRAC) in 2009, the museum relocated to the 32,000 sq. ft. retired Clackamas Armory at Camp Withycombe in Clackamas, Oregon. Renovations through 2020, included upgrades to security, seismic, environmental controls, a new envelope to support collections storage areas, the establishing of the Thomas E. Withycombe Library, and the addition of the Hall of Valor, Lobby, and Museum Store. Once open, the building will also feature a main exhibits space, a rotating temporary gallery, and a weapons gallery. The surrounding Historic Park, open seasonally, features a tracked vehicle display, c1911 Battery A Field Artillery Horse Barn, and a c1911 Quartermaster Storehouse.

Collections

The Oregon Military Museum stewards a vast collection of irreplaceable treasures reflecting Oregon's robust military heritage and legacy. Within its permanent collection, OMM holds more than 15,000 artifacts including 50 vehicles, 750 small arms, 1,300 uniforms, and 1,000 demilitarized ordnances. The Thomas E. Withycombe Library contains over 35,000 publications and over 1,000 cubic feet of archives, photos, and audiovisuals. Together, OMM's collections tell the many stories of Oregon's military history from pre-statehood to present day, covering wartime and humanitarian efforts, highlighting the role of the Oregon National Guard and individual Oregon service members who have played a role in the history of the state, the nation, and the world.

Since the 1970s, OMM has been amassing and preserving a collection of artifacts, archives, and images that bring Oregon's military history to life. The museum's larger collections items include a Korean War era Sabre F-86 jet, a WW1 Liberty Truck, a mid-20th century OH-23 Raven helicopter, an amphibious WW2 DUKW truck, a RONS robot, and Japanese, German, and American artillery dating back to 1865. Smaller artifacts include trench art, homemade POW tools and equipment, dog tags, and uniforms from nearly every conflict. Its small arms collection is one of the largest collections publicly available west of the Mississippi River.

The museum's archives, photo, and audiovisual collections cover over 170 years of Oregon's military history through primary and secondary source materials. Ranging from personal diaries, scrapbooks, and photo collections to military manuals, schematics, and reports, these collections, along with the Library's vast collection of book, pamphlet, guides, and serial publications, provide insights into Oregon's and Oregonians’ part in shaping and reflecting history.

Programming, exhibits, and resources

The Oregon Military Museum's outreach and education programs extend its mission to inspire and educate through community engagement and partnership. The museum offers youth, adult, family, and veteran programming from research services to educational entertainment through programs such as: Boots to Wheels, Early Engineering with the Sons of Union Veterans, and Living History Day. Career and education symposiums and events, as well as community-driven programs, also occur in partnership with the Oregon National Guard, Oregon Military Department, and other community organizations.

Slated to open in 2025, the museum's gallery exhibits will give visitors the opportunity to explore the people, actions, and technologies from the Indian Wars to both World Wars, from the Korean War to the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. Exhibitions will cover all branches of the US Armed Services, including the humanitarian and military service of the Oregon National Guard. Like most museums, only a small percentage of the museum's artifacts collection will be on display in the permanent and rotating galleries once opened. However, opportunities to explore the histories, stories, and insights of these collections will continue to be made available. While OMM looks to provide online access to researchers and the general public in the future, staff continues to welcome research inquires.

Oregon Military Museum Project

The Oregon Military Museum Project (OMMP) is the museum's 501(c)(3) auxiliary organization, providing development support for the museum's long-term financial stability. Working in coordination with the Military Museum Support Council and the Oregon Military Department, OMMP provides support with long-term planning for a museum endowment and financial sustainability for the ongoing operation and evolution of the museum.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian War Museum</span> War museum in Ontario, Canada

The Canadian War Museum (CWM) is a national museum on the country's military history in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The museum serves as both an educational facility on Canadian military history and a place of remembrance. The 40,860 square metres (439,800 sq ft) museum building is situated south of the Ottawa River in LeBreton Flats. The museum houses a number of exhibitions and memorials, in addition to a cafeteria, theatre, curatorial and conservation spaces, as well as storage space. The building also houses the Military History Research Centre, the museum's library and archives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CIA Museum</span> American intelligence museum in Langley

The CIA Museum, administered by the Center for the Study of Intelligence, a department of the Central Intelligence Agency, is a national archive for the collection, preservation, documentation and exhibition of intelligence artifacts, culture, and history. The collection, which in 2005 numbered 3,500 items, consists of artifacts that have been declassified; however, since the museum is on the compound of the George Bush Center for Intelligence, it is not accessible to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Ordnance Training Support Facility</span> Military museum in Fort Lee, Virginia, US

The United States Army Ordnance Training Support Facility artifacts are used to train and educate logistic soldiers. It re-located to Fort Gregg-Adams, outside Petersburg, Virginia. Its previous incarnation was the United States Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland which closed in September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Museum of the United States Navy</span> Flagship museum of the United States Navy

The National Museum of the United States Navy, or U.S. Navy Museum for short, is the flagship museum of the United States Navy and is located in the former Breech Mechanism Shop of the old Naval Gun Factory on the grounds of the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Army National Guard</span> Military unit

The Oregon Army National Guard is a federally mandated and equipped military organization under the civilian direction of the Oregon Military Department, with the Governor of Oregon as its Commander-in-Chief. It responds to state and national emergencies, military conflicts and natural disasters, and conducts search and rescue operations. While the history of the militia dates back to the establishment of the first Oregon militia in 1843, the present Guard was not established until after 1903. The modern Guard includes citizen soldiers, and its motto is "When we are needed, we are there."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tennessee State Museum</span>

The Tennessee State Museum is a large museum in Nashville depicting the history of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The current facility opened on October 4, 2018, at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street at the foot of Capitol Hill by the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The 137,000-square-foot building includes a Tennessee Time Tunnel chronicling the state's history by leading visitors though the museum's permanent collection, a hands-on children's gallery, six rotating galleries, a digital learning center, and a two-story Grand Hall. Exhibitions include significant artifacts related to the state's history, along with displays of art, furniture, textiles, and photographs produced by Tennesseans. The museum's Civil War holdings consists of uniforms, battle flags, and weapons. There is no admission charge for visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Desert Museum</span> Regional museum in Oregon, USA

The High Desert Museum is located near Bend, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1982, it brings regional wildlife, culture, art and natural resources together to promote an understanding of natural and cultural heritage of North America's high desert country. The museum includes indoor and outdoor exhibits of wildlife in natural-like habitats along with traveling exhibits and living history demonstrations. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is also a Smithsonian Affiliate institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Military Department</span>

The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsible for planning, establishing, and enforcing rules and procedures governing the administration, supply, and training of the Oregon National Guard, when not in the active service of the United States. The Department also maintains all state-owned or leased military facilities, including posts, camps, military reservations, and rifle ranges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center</span>

The United States Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, is the U.S. Army's primary historical research facility. Formed in 1999 and reorganized in 2013, the center consists of the Military History Institute (MHI), the Army Heritage Museum (AHM), the Historical Services Division (HSD), Visitor and Education Services (VES), the U.S. Army War College Library, and Collections Management (CM). The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center is part of the United States Army War College, but has its own 56-acre (230,000 m2) campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Newport News, Virginia</span>

Near the city's western end, a historic C&O railroad station, as well as American Civil War battle sites near historic Lee Hall along U.S. Route 60 and several 19th century plantations have all been protected. Many are located along the roads leading to Yorktown and Williamsburg, where many sites of the Historic Triangle are of both American Revolutionary War and Civil War significance. The first modern duel of ironclad warships, the Battle of Hampton Roads, took place not far off Newport News Point in 1862.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Museum of Thessaloniki</span> War Museum in Grigoriou Lampraki , Thessaloniki

The War Museum of Thessaloniki is a military museum in Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African National Museum of Military History</span> Military museum in Johannesburg, South Africa

The South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg was officially opened by Prime Minister Jan Smuts on 29 August 1947 to preserve the history of South Africa's involvement in the Second World War. In 1975, the museum was renamed from the South African National War Museum and its function changed to include all conflicts that South Africa has been involved in. In 1999 it was amalgamated with the Pretoria-based Transvaal Museum and National Cultural History Museum to form the Northern Flagship Institution. In April 2010 Ditsong was officially renamed Ditsong Museums of South Africa and the SANMMH was renamed the Ditsong National Museum of Military History.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History</span> Military museum in Brussels, Belgium

The Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, also known as the Royal Military Museum, is a military museum that occupies the two northernmost halls of the historic complex in the Parc du Cinquantenaire/Jubelpark in Brussels, Belgium. This site is served by the metro stations Schuman and Merode on lines 1 and 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Military College of Canada Museum</span>

The Royal Military College of Canada Museum, established in 1962, is located in a Martello tower known as Fort Frederick on the campus of the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and is operated by the college. Until 2016 the museum had regular hours from the last weekend in June until Labour Day. Although admission was free, donations were accepted. Guided tours were offered in English and French. Genealogical research and archival records services were offered relating to college history or with inquires relating to ex-cadets when permitted by privacy regulations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camp Withycombe</span>

Camp Withycombe, located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, was originally established as Camp Benson after Governor Frank W. Benson, but was later renamed Camp Withycombe during World War I for Governor James Withycombe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum</span> Military history museum in Minnesota, United States

The Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum is the principal activity of the Military Historical Society of Minnesota (MHSM), a non-profit educational organization chartered to preserve and explain Minnesota’s military history. It is federally recognized as a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. MHSM operates the library, archive and museum as a public–private partnership in cooperation with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota National Guard. The museum, which is open to the general public year-round, is located a few blocks inside the main gate at Camp Ripley, a state-owned 53,000 acres military training center located on the Mississippi River just north of Little Falls in central Minnesota. The museum's mission encompasses all branches of service as well as the home front and is certified by the United States Army Center of Military History and the U.S. Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mississippi Armed Forces Museum</span> American military history museum

The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum is located at Camp Shelby, approximately 12 miles (19 km) south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Armed Forces Museum serves as the military history museum for the State of Mississippi. It is a member of the Army Museum System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Jewish Museum</span> Museum of the history of the Jews of Oregon

The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education is the largest museum dedicated to the documented and visual history of the Jews of Oregon, United States. The Museum is dedicated to the preservation, research, and exhibition of art, archival materials, and artifacts of the Jews and Judaism in Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Military Forces Museum</span> Military Museum in Austin, Texas

The Texas Military Forces Museum is a history museum in Austin, Texas. It is hosted by the Texas Military Department at Camp Mabry and is part of the United States Army Historical Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Canadian Artillery Museum</span> Artillery museum in Near Brandon, Manitoba

The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum (RCA Museum), Canada's National Artillery Museum, is dedicated to telling the history of Canadian Gunners who have served Canada since 1855. The RCA Museum is the central museum for the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA).

References