1200 SW Park Avenue
Oregon Historical Society on February 15, 2010
On the other side of the Park Blocks is the Oregon Historical Society Museum. The Oregon Historical Society traces its history back to the Oregon Pioneer Association, which was founded in 1873. The museum's current main building was built with private gifts and was completed in 1966. At the completion of a 2003 renovation it was named the James F. Miller Pavilion.
Oregon Historical Society on February 15, 2010
Photography is not actually permitted inside the Oregon Historical Society Museum, but I didn’t know that and took the following pictures before I was told about the rule. I am posting them so that no one else will be tempted to break the rules.
Benson Automobile on January 23, 2010
One of the exhibits in the Oregon Historical Society Museum is the Benson Automobile, the first automobile built in the state of Oregon. Nils Benson, a “garage inventor,” and his teenage assistant James Chance started working on the car in 1904. Benson ordered some parts and made others at his machine shop on SE Grand Avenue in Portland. The rubber tires were shipped from Indochina.
Benson Automobile on January 23, 2010
The Benson Automobile was displayed at the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland and operated there for 3 months. Later, Benson added a crankshaft and 2 more cylinders for a total of 4 before the automobile was considered finished in 1906.
Benson Automobile on January 23, 2010
Though he originally planned to build more, this was the only automobile Benson ever built. The Benson automobile ended up being stored in a shed behind Benson's home on NE 92nd Place.
Benson Automobile on January 23, 2010
The Benson automobile was sold to neighbor William McAllister in 1951 and then to Walter Rusk in 1973. Rusk restored the automobile in 1973-1974 and donated it to the Oregon Historical Society in 1999.
Meier & Frank Delivery Wagon on January 23, 2010
Another exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society Museum is this horse-drawn delivery wagon used by the Meier & Frank Company to deliver purchases from the department store to customers. Built around 1900, this two-horse wagon was retired in 1908, and Meier & Frank began replacing the horse-drawn wagons with gasoline-powered trucks around 1910.
Next to the Oregon Historical Society Museum Building is a plaza called the Washington Ellipse (although it is not in an elliptical shape). It honors the 200th Anniversary of George Washington's Presidential Inauguration on April 30, 1989 and celebrates the lives and community service of Henry and Romayne Wessinger of Portland, Oregon.
Flying Together by Tom Hardy on February 15, 2010
In the Washington Ellipse is this 1990 sculpture by Tom Hardy, Flying Together, which is in memory of Richard J. Marlitt from Mrs. Richard J. Marlitt, Mr. Thomas Corbett Marlitt and Mr. & Mrs. Michael Ladd Marlitt.
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