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Heritage Engagement Tools

Oregon Heritage, which includes the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), is committed to finding ways to support organizations doing heritage work across Oregon. We develop statewide plans to guide our work and partner with organizations and agencies on plan initiatiatives. We also are committed to providing tools, research, and studies for heritage organizations to use in planning, advocacy, grant writing, and more.

Oregon Heritage & SHPO Plans

The Preservation Plan and the Oregon Heritage Plan are intended to guide heritage efforts statewide and the work of Oregon Heritage.

          The Oregon Heritage Plan is a call to action for heritage efforts across the state to unite around common goals. Oregon Heritage invites individuals and organizations to discuss the goals and strategies in this Plan, consider how they align with organization missions and priorities, and join Oregon Heritage in this work. Together, individual steps will add up to important outcomes for the state resulting in more stories told, more people served, and more sustainable heritage organizations. Oregon Heritage and other statewide agencies and service organizations provide grants, incentives, technical assistance, and recognition programs to support this work.

          Oregon Heritage Plan 2026 Update

          Has your organization moved goals forward? Let us know! Tell us how you have accomplished Plan goals by emailing heritage.info@oprd.oregon.gov to share your success stories over the next seven years. This anecdotal information allows Oregon Heritage to hear successes and challenges in achieving Plan goals. With permission, successes will be shared through Oregon Heritage communication channels to highlight different examples, models, and ways goals are moving forward.

          La Comisión del Patrimonio de Oregón es un grupo de líderes de todo el estado que colabora para promover recursos, reconocimiento y financiamiento destinados a preservar e interpretar el pasado de Oregón. La Comisión está a cargo de coordinar las actividades del patrimonio en todo el estado y de actualizar el Plan del Patrimonio de Oregón. El Plan del Patrimonio de Oregón es un llamado a la acción para que los esfuerzos del patrimonio en todo el estado se unan en torno a objetivos comunes. Oregon Heritage invita a personas y organizaciones a analizar los objetivos y las estrategias de este Plan, a considerar cómo se alinean con las misiones y prioridades de sus organizaciones, y a unirse a Oregon Heritage en esta tarea. En conjunto, las acciones individuales producirán avances importantes para el estado, lo que permitirá contar más historias, atender a más personas y lograr que las organizaciones dedicadas al patrimonio sean más sostenibles. Oregon Heritage, así como otras agencias y organizaciones de servicio a nivel estatal ofrecen subvenciones, incentivos, asistencia técnica y programas de reconocimiento para apoyar este trabajo.


          ¿Ha avanzado su organización en la consecución de sus objetivos? ¡Cuéntenoslo! Envíe un correo electrónico a heritage.info@oprd.oregon.gov para contarnos cómo lograron los objetivos del Plan, a fin de comp artir sus historias de éxito durante los próximos siete años. Esta información anecdótica permite a Oregon Heritage conocer los éxitos y los desafíos que tuvieron para lograr los objetivos del plan. Con permiso, los éxitos se compartirán a través de los canales de comunicación de Oregon Heritage para destacar diferentes ejemplos, modelos y formas en que los objetivos están avanzando.


          The statewide plan offers a comprehensive approach to preserving special traditions, collections, and places, and describes how to coordinate the efforts of the many people and organizations involved in this vital work including, but not limited to, federal, local, and tribal governments and local landmark commissions, museums, archives, libraries, historical societies, educational institutions, advocacy groups, and building, design, finance, and real estate professionals, and other people and organizations that understand the value of these resources in Oregon’s communities.

          The plan highlights four key issues and includes goals and objectives to address each issue, and how people and organizations can use the plan to enhance their efforts.

          2024-2033 Oregon Historic Preservation Plan
          Public Survey Results

          ​El plan estatal ofrece un enfoque integral para preservar tradiciones, colecciones y lugares especiales, y describe cómo coordinar los esfuerzos de las numerosas personas y organizaciones involucradas en este trabajo esencial, incluyendo, entre otros, a los gobiernos federales, locales y tribales, comisiones locales de sitios históricos, museos, archivos, bibliotecas, sociedades históricas, instituciones educativas, grupos de defensa, y profesionales de la construcción, diseño, finanzas e inmobiliaria, además de otras personas y organizaciones que comprenden el valor de estos recursos en las comunidades de Oregón.

          El plan destaca cuatro temas clave y propone metas y objetivos para abordar cada uno de ellos, además de cómo las personas y las organizaciones pueden utilizar el plan para mejorar sus esfuerzos.

          Plan de Preservación Histórica de Oregón 2024-2033



          Partners

          We have several partners that we work with on ongoing or special initiatives. They also have resources that may be useful to heritage organizations such as grants, research resources, and other heritage preservation tools.

          Sharing the Value of Heritage Toolkit

          This toolkit is an ongoing effort of Oregon Heritage to compile data, resources, and guidance to help heritage groups recognize and communicate the value of their work. The more we articulate heritage values and impacts, the more we strengthen public perception of heritage efforts, expand funding opportunities, and encourage long-term support for Oregon's heritage.
           
          We encourage you to use these resources to create compelling impact statements about your work when you communicate with the public, donors, and community leaders.
           
          Tools will be added on an on-going basis to provide:
          • state and national data
          • resources to collect local and organizational data
          • guidance on how to use these tools
          The goal of the Toolkit is to provide current, relevant, and easy-to-use resources your heritage group can adapt to fit your needs. To keep this a dynamic resource, tools, guidance on using each tool, and examples will be added semiannually. Check back often to access useful national resources and original state-level data compiled by Oregon Heritage.

          ​Value of Heritage Message Platform

          Making the connection between your heritage work and its impact on the community is essential for building support and understanding. This guide will help you communicate both what you organization does and why it matters.

          2. Adapt It: Select messages that resonate with your work, and/or use these examples to create your own messages.
          3. Action: Use value messages the next time you need to prepare a testimony, an email, op-ed, press release, speech, or even a social media post.
           
          Cultural Value of Heritage Flyer

          Stories are powerful ways to illustrate the cultural impact of your heritage preservation and outreach efforts. The Cultural Value of Heritage flyer is an example of how your organization can pair a message, story, and image to demonstrate cultural value.
          2. Adapt It: Read through the Cultural Value of Heritage Message Platform impact messages (page 3) and think of a story in your work that exemplifies impact. Pair your story with a message and an image to create a flyer. Successful stories may include: 1) an individual's personal story, 2) a connection to your organization's project, 3) a quotation that summarizes the concept in the narrator's own words, 4) an ending that connects to a larger goal.
          3. Action: Distribute your flyer to potential board members, with your annual appeal letter, after a testimony to your city council, or share this flyer with local leaders to spark a conversation about the value and impact of heritage efforts in your community.

          Cultural Value of Heritage through Volunteers Messaging

          A recent report from the Oregon Heritage Commission highlights the value of heritage organizations from the volunteer perspective. The study showed that volunteers contribute time because of the historic mission of the organizations. It also demostrated that people feel more connected to their comnunities through their volunteer experience. Use this study to promote your organization's value.
          1. Access Tool: Value of Heritage through Volunteers Messaging Platform
          2. Adapt it: Review the report and summary, then review the model messaging platform. Think about how your organization reflects this value point.
          3. Action: Insert your oranization's information and value, then spread the word.

          Value of Heritage in Disaster Resilience Messaging Guide

          Cultural heritage plays a powerful role in a community's identity through landmarks, historic collections, and intangible heritage. By communicating this value to planners and emergency management professionals, we can ensure historic places and cultural resources are included in local emergency plans, they are protected from disaster, and their role in community disaster recovery is understood.
          1. Access Tools:
          2. Adapt it: Review the report commissioned by the Oregon Heritage Commission. Select an opening, impact, and approach message from the examples provided to effectively tailor communications to your intended audience.
          3. Action: Use these tips to develop presentations, brochures, and social media posts that engage and influence decision makers in your community to include heritage resources in disaster planning.

          ​NEW! Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon’s Heritage Organizations and Events (2022)

          Local and statewide organizations engaged in protecting, preserving, and sharing Oregon's heritage contribute to Oregon's economy in important ways. The first part of this report quantifies some of the economic value Oregon's heritage activities and resources support, through the employment, income, and tourism spending of heritage organizations and traditions across the state. These estimates capture just a part of the broader economic importance of Oregon's heritage: the second part of this report provides illustrations of the many different ways heritage enhances the economic well-being of Oregonians.

          1. Access Tool: Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon's Heritage Organizations and Events Report
          2. Adapt It: Check out this communications tool for ideas on how to use the results of the report to communication your organization's value to the state and local economy. You can also find ways to figure out your own data for more specific information on your organization's impact OR band together regionally with other heritage organizations to commnicate regional impact.
          3. Action: Use this report and the communications tool to craft your messages for local decision makers, your membership, your partners, and more. This would be a perfect compliment to any end of year campaigns or to the annual report you circulate reiterating your value to the local community.


          Museums as Economic Engines Report (2017)

          Museums play an essential role in cultural and social life across the US. Beyond this cultural impact, the museum sector is also essential to the national economy of the United States. In 2017, the American Alliance of Museums partnered with Oxford Economics to study the museum sector's significant contribution to the US economy. The study examined contribution to the GDP, jobs, and the amount of tax revenue that is generated for all level of government.

          2. Adapt It: Compare the Oregon report and the National Museums as Economic Engines Report to any data you may have about local impact. If local information is not readily available, use the AAM Economic Impact Template to quantify your organization's impact in the community.
          3. Action: Use this report and your community statistics when you speak with decision makers and the public. Consider compiling statistics in a letter you send to the Chamber of Commerce and City Council each year.

          ​2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study Report (2024)
          The Oregon Heritage Commission released the 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study Report identifying the top issues impacting the operational vitality of Oregon’s heritage organizations and proposing six primary recommendations to comprehensively support the health of the heritage sector. Supplemental material includes organization profiles based on the data collected.

          Addressing Harmful Content in Collections (2024)
          A report prepared by Rose Paquet, PhD. for the Oregon Heritage Commission to understand the scope of harm, trauma, and triggering that can occur to visitors, staff, and volunteers when engaging with institutional records and collections and how organizations are addressing harmful content in their collections.

          Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon's Heritage Organizations and Events Report & Communication Tool (2022)
          A report and messaging guide commissioned by the Oregon Heritage Commission to help organizations communicate the value of heritage organizations and Heritage Tradition Events on Oregon's economy.

          What's Up Downtown? A Playbook for Activating Oregon's Upper Stories (2022)
          A study exploring barriers and solutions to activate underused upper floors and tools to support activation locally.

          Impact of Oregon's Main Streets Report (2022)
          This report shares the story of how the Oregon Main Street Network strengthens community networks, bolsters the economy, generates state and local tax revenue, and fosters social connections across the state. The report includes the economic, fiscal, and community impacts of the key programmatic efforts of Oregon’s Main Streets.

          Value of Heritage in Disaster Resilience Report and Messaging Guide (2021)
          A report and messaging guide commissioned by the Oregon Heritage Commission to help heritage professionals and historic property stewards communicate the necessity of heritage-based disaster planning before disaster strikes, as well as the important role heritage can play in community disaster recovery.

          The Value of Oregon Heritage Organizaitons' Volunteers: An Oregon Heritage Commission Volunteer Study (2020)
          The Value of Oregon Heritage Organizations' Volunteer Study Summary (2020)
          This study explores the value of heritage organizations through the volunteer experience. Volunteers support these organizations with hundreds of thousands of hours of time, in turn the experience great community connection.

          Digital Heritage Collections Survey Summary of Key Findings (2018)
          This survey summary outlines how many of the respondents are digitizing collections, how they are made if available digitally, and any interest in collaboration on a local, regional, statewide level in digitization efforts.

          Cost of Collections Care (2017)
          A guide that documents the cost of collections care for museums and other cultural institutions to help organizations plan for collection care costs or use for support in applying for grants or fundraising efforts.

          National Survey of Heritage Funding and Incentive Programs for Oregon (2017)
          A research report intended to identify state, county, and local incentive and funding programs for the broad heritage community in Oregon.  A research report intended to identify state, county, and local incentive and funding programs for the broad heritage community in Oregon.

          Cultural Heritage Travelers in Oregon Report (2012)
          A study conducted by Mandala Research LLC with support from the Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Cultural Trust, and Travel Oregon to identify the level of awareness of cultural heritage activities in Oregon, perceptions of the cultural heritage assets to the State, willingness to visit, and the economic impact.

          Heritage Vitality Study (2011)
          A report commissioned by the Oregon Heritage Commission to identify individual and collective challenges facing Oregon heritage. Proposes comprehensive solutions to these challenges.


          American Association for State and Local History Reframing History Project - "Funded by the Mellon Foundation and carried out in partnership with the FrameWorks Institute, National Council on Public History, and Organization of American Historians, Reframing History is the result of a two-year, deep-dive research effort to understand how Americans think about history and how our field can more effectively explain history’s value. The recommendations from this project are designed to help historians, educators, museum professionals, and history advocates to be able to more cohesively and convincingly communicate about history to build a wider understanding of what inclusive history looks like and why it is important for all of us." View the report, toolkit, and podcast here. ​


          Legislative & Rulemaking Information

          Check here for information about Oregon Revised Statute and Oregon Administrative Rule activity associated with Oregon Heritage. 

          Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant not funded at this time

          The Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant was not funded in the 2025 legislative session. Without funding, we are unable to open a new grant cycle in the 27-29 biennium. In the past, the grant funding was included in the lottery bond bill which is usually coordinated by the Ways and Means Committee of the Legislature. The Governor and Oregon Legislature have the authority to include Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant funding in the OPRD budget for the 27-29 biennium. If this funding is included in the lottery bond bill during the 2027 legislative session, we would anticipate opening a new grant cycle in spring 2029 when the fund becomes available. 

          Oregon Main Street, the coordinating program, is fully funded and operating at normal levels.

          Grant Funding History

          The grant program and fund were established in 2015 by the Oregon legislature. The legislature has since funded the program through the lottery bond package.

          • 2015 (for 2017 awards) - $2.5 million
          • 2017 (for 2019 awards) - $5 million
          • 2019 (for 2021 awards) - $5 million, the bond sale was canceled due to impacts of COVID
          • 2021 (for 2022 & 2023 awards) - $10 million
          • 2023 (for 2025 awards) - $10 million
          • 2025 (for 2027 awards) - Funding was removed from the bill at the end of the session.

          Grant Results

          Results summary from Janaury 2025.

          For information on the Oregon Revitalization Grant, contact kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-383-6787.

          On July 24, 2026,  the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted to begin rulemaking to revise the regulations that implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800). The proposed changes would remove public involvement from the process, reduce the role of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Tribes, and narrow both the types of projects covered and the kinds of properties considered historic. 

          Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider whether a project could harm historic places. This applies to projects on federal lands or those involving federal funding, permits, or licenses. Agencies must consult with the State Historic Preservation Office, Tribes, local governments, and knowledgeable community organizations such as museums, archives, historical societies, and cemetery groups to help identify historic properties and understand their significance. Projects reviewed under Section 106 range from road and water system construction to building hospitals and upgrading schools for seismic safety. In Oregon, many local jurisdictions and partners across the Heritage Community participate in this process by helping federal agencies identify important historic places not listed in the state inventory, assess potential harm from federal actions, and, when needed, determine how negative impacts, including demolition, can be mitigated through documentation, public outreach, education, and related efforts. 

          More information about the proposed changes is available from the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) and from the National Trust for Historic Preservation at Section 106 Under Threat | National Trust for Historic Preservation. The proposed rules are still under review, and there will be a public comment opportunity in the future, although it is not yet clear when that opportunity will occur or how long it will last.


          On July 24, the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted to begin rulemaking to revise the regulations that implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800). The proposed changes would remove public involvement from the process, reduce the role of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Tribes, and narrow both the types of projects covered and the kinds of properties considered historic. Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider whether a project could harm historic places. This applies to projects on federal lands or those involving federal funding, permits, or licenses. Agencies must consult with the State Historic Preservation Office, Tribes, local governments, and knowledgeable community organizations such as museums, archives, historical societies, and cemetery groups to help identify historic properties and understand their significance. Projects reviewed under Section 106 range from road and water system construction to building hospitals and upgrading schools for seismic safety. In Oregon, many local jurisdictions and partners across the Heritage Community participate in this process by helping federal agencies identify important historic places not listed in the state inventory, assess potential harm from federal actions, and, when needed, determine how negative impacts, including demolition, can be mitigated through documentation, public outreach, education, and related efforts. More information about the proposed changes is available from the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers at NCSHPO and from the National Trust for Historic Preservation at Section 106 Under Threat | National Trust for Historic Preservation. The proposed rules are still under review, and there will be a public comment opportunity in the future, although it is not yet clear when that opportunity will occur or how long it will last.
          On July 24, the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted to begin rulemaking to revise the regulations that implement Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR 800). The proposed changes would remove public involvement from the process, reduce the role of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and Tribes, and narrow both the types of projects covered and the kinds of properties considered historic. Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider whether a project could harm historic places. This applies to projects on federal lands or those involving federal funding, permits, or licenses. Agencies must consult with the State Historic Preservation Office, Tribes, local governments, and knowledgeable community organizations such as museums, archives, historical societies, and cemetery groups to help identify historic properties and understand their significance. Projects reviewed under Section 106 range from road and water system construction to building hospitals and upgrading schools for seismic safety. In Oregon, many local jurisdictions and partners across the Heritage Community participate in this process by helping federal agencies identify important historic places not listed in the state inventory, assess potential harm from federal actions, and, when needed, determine how negative impacts, including demolition, can be mitigated through documentation, public outreach, education, and related efforts. More information about the proposed changes is available from the National Council of State Historic Preservation Officers at NCSHPO and from the National Trust for Historic Preservation at Section 106 Under Threat | National Trust for Historic Preservation. The proposed rules are still under review, and there will be a public comment opportunity in the future, although it is not yet clear when that opportunity will occur or how long it will last.


          Outreach Initiatives

          Explore our initiatives and projects to see what we are working on and how you can get involved.

          The Oregon Heritage Commission is working with consultants from Northwest Vernacular on the following project related to Oregon's remaining covered bridges. 

          Project Overview:
          Oregon’s covered bridges are unique historic resources that are valued by local communities as special, place-defining features. Covered bridges also attract visitors with their role in heritage tourism across the state. Despite the value these resource have, managers of covered bridges face challenges in being able to find funding to address deferred and ongoing maintenance for these structures. 
          The purpose of this report would be to gather updated information on covered bridges in Oregon using a previous report from 1989 as a framework and identifying and interviewing current resource managers, formulate recommendations on opportunities for funding preservation work on covered bridges in Oregon, and facilitating opportunities for local covered bridge managers and statewide agencies and service organizations to come together and discuss the value of these resources and options for preserving them into the future. 

          Project Goals:
          -    Understand the current state of Oregon’s covered bridges in terms of loss, deferred maintenance costs, threats, etc. using a previous report from 1989 as a framework to update.
          -    Identify who manages these resources and any partnerships in place to help with fundraising, promotion, operations, and more to help build a support network.
          -    Gather data and information that speaks to the value of these resources both to the community as unique, character defining features and to heritage tourism.
          -    Identify successes and challenges in managing and preserving these resources.
          -    Develop recommendations for paths forward to help support the preservation of these unique heritage resources.
          -    A culminating virtual gathering inviting covered bridge managers and partners, state agencies and service organizations, and funders to go over the report results and discuss the recommendations as a group.
          -    Provide a tool for covered bridge resource managers and partners to use in seeking funding support, developing partnerships to help support, share resources, and more. 

          Timeline:
          -    May-September: gathering data and draft report
          -    Early/Mid-October: virtual gathering to review report findings and have discussion with resource managers, supporters, statewide agency representatives, service providers, and funders
          -    Late October: final report released

          If you are interested in learning more about the project or have information to provide related to preserving Oregon's covered bridges, please contact Oregon Heritage Commission Coordinator Katie Henry at katie.henry@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-877-8834. ​

          Oregon’s covered bridges are unique historic resources that are valued by local communities as special, place-defining features. Covered bridges also attract visitors with their role in heritage tourism across the state. Despite the value these resource have, managers of covered bridges face challenges in being able to find funding to address deferred and ongoing maintenance for these structures. 
          The purpose of this report would be to gather updated information on covered bridges in Oregon using a previous report from 1989 as a framework and identifying and interviewing current resource managers, formulate recommendations on opportunities for funding preservation work on covered bridges in Oregon, and facilitating opportunities for local covered bridge managers and statewide agencies and service organizations to come together and discuss the value of these resources and options for preserving them into the future. 
          Project Goals:
          -    Understand the current state of Oregon’s covered bridges in terms of loss, deferred maintenance costs, threats, etc. using a previous report from 1989 as a framework to update.
          -    Identify who manages these resources and any partnerships in place to help with fundraising, promotion, operations, and more to help build a support network.
          -    Gather data and information that speaks to the value of these resources both to the community as unique, character defining features and to heritage tourism.
          -    Identify successes and challenges in managing and preserving these resources.
          -    Develop recommendations for paths forward to help support the preservation of these unique heritage resources.
          -    A culminating virtual gathering inviting covered bridge managers and partners, state agencies and service organizations, and funders to go over the report results and discuss the recommendations as a group.
          -    Provide a tool for covered bridge resource managers and partners to use in seeking funding support, developing partnerships to help support, share resources, and more. 
          Timeline:
          -    May-September: gathering data and draft report
          -    Early/Mid-October: virtual gathering to review report findings and have discussion with resource managers and statewide agency representatives, service providers, and funders
          -    Late October: final report released

          ​Historic Cemetery Cleanup Days with SOLVE

          Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) is teaming up with SOLVE to support caretakers hosting clean-up days during April and May in historic cemeteries throughout Oregon.

          Check out 2025 cleanup results here!

          2026 - Spring cleanup days

          Cemeteries register with SOLVE to receive promotional and organizational support including event day liablity coverage, flyer templates and volunteer sign up. Contact Jack Hochberg at jack@solveoregon.org or 971-346-2707. Register by early March for the best promotion!

          Benefits of Working with SOLVE

          Free Orientation Workshop

          Online
          February 19, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
          Register to get access information. A recording is avaialble to registrants for two weeks following the orientation. 

          Other Resources

          How to Organize a Cemetery Cleanup Day Heritage Bulletin
          How to Clean Cemetery Markers Heritage Bulletin
          How to Spread the News Heritage Bulletin

          Contact: Kuri Gill at kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-383-6787 for workshop or Oregon Historic Cemeteries program questions.

          ​May is Historic Preservation Month! Oregon Heritage wants to help you celebrate preservation in your community. The following tools are available to you:

          • Send your preservation related events to heritage.info@oregon.gov and we will highlight them online and in the weekly Oregon Heritage News listserv.

          People doing heritage work in Oregon are targeting dentity focused topics. These include documenting, designating and sharing diverse histories and ensuring all people can access them. Here are resources to support this work.


          Share places you find with the State Historic Preservation Office. Sumbit information at www.makeoregonhistory.org. The information will be added to the Oregon Historic Sites Database and may be used to designate properties to the National Register of Historic Places in the future.


          This is a work in progress. Please share suggestions with Kuri Gill.


          Resources

          Northwest Digital Heritage - online access to many archives
          Oregon Digital Newspaper Project
          Oregon Encyclopedia
          Oregon Multicultural Archives
          Portland State University Special Collections & Libraries
          NPS - Underrepresented Communities Grant

          Addressing Racism in Heritage Organizations

          Heritage Bulletin 34: Researching Historically Marginalized Communities


          Oregon Advocacy Commissions

          Four Oregon commissions that advocate for specific communities. Also offers equity-related research and resources.


          Black History

          Commemorations: 
          January, Martin Luther King, Jr Birthday

          February, Black History Month
          June, Juneteenth
          Oregon Commission on Black Affairs

          Oregon Black Pioneers

          Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center
          African American Civil Rights Grant
          African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund


          Chinese American History

          Commemorations:
          May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
          Oregon Commission on Asian & Pacific Isander Affairs

          Portland Chinatown Museum

          Kam Wah Chung Site

          Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association


          Japanese American History

          Commemorations:

          May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
          February, Day of Rememberance
          Oregon Commission on Asian & Pacific Isander Affairs
          Japanese American History Museum of Oregon

          Four Rivers Cultural Center

          History Museum of Hood River County


          LGBTQIA+

          Commemorations:
          June, Pride Month
          Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest
          Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project
          OSU Queer Archives


          Hispanic/Latinx History

          Commemorations:
          September, Hispanic Heritage Month
          Oregon Heritage Traditions: Fiesta Mexicana (Woodburn)
          Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs
          UO Latino Roots

          Five Oaks Museum
          PCUN History

          Diverisity of Heritage: Exploring Oregon's Heritage Resources in Latinx Communities


          Nordic History

          This group includes countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
          Commemorations:
          June 17, Icelandic American Day
          October 9, Norwegian-American Day
          November 16, Dutch-American Day
          Oregon Heritage Traditions - Portland Midsummer
          Festival, Scandinavian Festival (Junction City), Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

          Nordic Northwest
          Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association
          Swedish Society Linnea (Portland)
          Oregon Encyclopedia - Swedish Americans in Oregon
          Swedish American Historical Society
          Norwegian American Historical Association
          Dutch American Historical Commission
          Icelandic National League of North America

          Oregon's Tribes

          Commemorations:
          October, Indigenous People's Day
          November, Native American Heritage Month
          Oregon Heritage Traditions: UO Mother's Day PowWow

          The Oregon's federally recognized tribes are sovereign nations and have deep history in Oregon. Each tribal nation is organized differently and it is important to coordinate with them on various levels including tribal government and staff.
          Legislative Commission on Indian Services - Find current tribal government and cultural resources contacts here.
          Contact tribes directly to work with them regarding collections, interpretation, language, cultural practices, etc. Some have museums, online history, and collections.
          Burns Paiute Tribe
          Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
          Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community
          Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
          Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
          Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation of Oregon
          Coquille Indian Tribe
          Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
          Klamath Tribes

          Tribes outside of Oregon also have historic ties to lands within the state. If you are near state boundaries, research the appropriate tribes to engage.

          Women's History

          Commemorations: March, Women's History Month; Suffrage anniversaries
          Oregon Commission for Women
          Oregon Women's History Consortium
          Women's Vote Centennial Initiative

          ​Oregon Heritage now offers a collection of tools to expand the use of Multiple Property Documentation (MPD) forms in preservation efforts across the state. These practical, accessible, and impactful materials are intended to help Oregon’s preservation community make fuller use of MPDs—a type of document that can streamline the National Register designation of related historic properties and support broader preservation goals. This effort directly supports the goals of the 2024–2033 Oregon Historic Preservation Plan, which calls for improving access to information and tools that help identify, evaluate, designate, and protect Oregon’s cultural resources.

          The following resources are based on a comprehensive report produced in partnership with Northwest Vernacular, Inc. and Sarah J. Martin Cultural Resource Services LLC exploring best practices, highlighting particularly effective Oregon MPDs, and offering guidance on when and how new MPDs should be developed.

          Resources

          ​The Oregon Heritage Commission, State Library of Oregon, and Washington State Library have partnered to launch Northwest Digital Heritage (NWDH), an online platform for Oregon and Washington based libraries, museums, and cultural heritage organizations to digitize and make accessible cultural heritage materials. Northwest Digital Heritage also operates as a service hub of the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), which helps bring these unique and local Northwest collections to a wider audience.

          NWDH provides cultural institutions the following services:

          • Metadata “Harvesting.” Records are copied from their home systems, standardized, and then transferred to DPLA.
          • Digital Collection Hosting offers smaller institutions an online platform to host their digitized items including historical documents, photographs, oral-history recordings, and more.
          • Training and Support. Service hub staff, composed of teams at both state libraries and the Oregon Heritage Commission, train cultural heritage organizations to digitize collections, edit and preserve digital files, and catalog material to archival standards.

          Visit Northwest Digital Heritage to learn about how to get your heritage archives online.

          The purpose of the Oregon Women’s History Project is to recognize the significant history of women in Oregon through a Multiple Property Submission (MPS), which includes two documents, a Multiple Property Document (MPD) and an individual property nomination, to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places of the National Park Service (NPS).

          The first phase of the project is complete, resulting in a context focusing on labor history related to women in Oregon. The document provides details on the approach to selecting the focus, some of the history and property types to explore in future steps.

          Oregon Women's Labor History: A Historic Context Statement: 1903-1999

          The Multiple Property Document is in draft now. it is expected to be evaluated by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation at the June 2026 meeting. 

          For questions or to submit information contact Kuri Gill at kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.