Text Size: A+| A-| A   |   Text Only Site   |   Accessibility
Heritage Excellence Awards
Introduction
Stewardship of a significant section of the Oregon Trail received an Oregon Heritage Excellence Award in 2008.
McDonald's Ford area of the Oregon Trail
The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations for outstanding efforts on behalf of Oregon heritage and raise the quality of heritage-oriented activities.
 
Nominations are encouraged for exceptional and meritorious work. Special consideration is given to the development of new ideas, approaches and innovations.
 

The 2009 nomination forms will be available in December 2008.
 
The 2008 nomination form is available here in [ PDF ] and [ Word ] and [ RTF ] versions

Previous award winners
Many individuals, organizations and businesses have been given Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards. Here are listings of the awards by the year they were given.
 

2008
Carnegie Library Restoration Project, Baker City. For creating a successful public-private partnership to preserve, restore and reuse the historic 1909 library building.
 
Local Tribal History Education Program, Coos County. For the collaborative efforts to bring knowledge and appreciation of the present and past cultures of the area's tribes to students and teachers in Coos County.
 
Oregon Music Project, Aurora Colony Historical Society. For preserving, documenting and restoring historic Oregon music, and enhancing public access to it through technology and public performance.
 
Venerable Group, Portland. For its efforts to restore vacant and underutilized historic buildings so they become catalysts for new commercial activity and neighborhood redevelopment.
 
Mary Gallagher, Corvallis. For outstanding individual achievement in the combined fields of heritage, preservation and museology.
 
Leland Gilsen, Salem. For the promotion of knowledge about and appreciation for Oregon's prehistoric past for more than 30 years.
 
David and Sarah Schlect, Wasco. For their stewardships, and that of their neighbors and predecessors, of the highlighly significant McDonald's Ford section of the Oregon Trail.
 
Rebecca Soules, Coos Bay. For her demonstrated dedication to preserving and interpreting Oregon heritage through historic cemeteries, Century Farms and Heritage Trees.

2007
Higher Ground Documentary Project, Boardman. For preserving stories from the Boardman community relocation of the 1960s.
 
Benton County. For its commitment to preserving the county's heritage and sharing it with the public, and for serving as a model for other counties.
 
Harrisburg Museum Board of Directors, Harrisburg. For its development of Heritage Park and serving as a bridge between the farming community and city residents.
 
Jacksonville Woodlands Association, Jacksonville. For protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Historic Jacksonville since 1989 through the establishment of the Jacksonville Woodlands Natural Park and Trail System and its related programs.
 
Mission Mill Museum, Salem. For the renovation and transformation of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill building during its Saving Salem's American Treasure project.
 
Oregon Military Museum, Clackamas. For growing Living History Day as an event that presents Oregon history in a hands-on, easy-to-understand fashion.
 
Oregon National Guard. For its outstanding leadership and support during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration.
 
Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. For the groundbreaking book Wiyaxayxt As Days Go By Wiyaakaa'awn.
 
Tillamook Forest Center, Oregon Department of Forestry. For the successful planning and development of the Tillamook Forest Center as a place for forest history and heritage.
 
Larry Landis, Corvallis. For his enthusiasm and commitment to preserving and making accessible archival materials for all people of Oregon, and for the development of the Oregon Multicultural Archives and the Northwest Digital Archives.
 
Julie Reese, Adams. For her dedication, advocacy and vision for heritage in Umatilla County.
 
Carol Harbison Samuelson, Medford. For providing outstanding assistance to Southern Oregon history for more than 20 years.
 
Colleen Sump, St. Paul. For the development of outstanding interpretive and educational programs at Champoeg State Heritage Area.
 
Sara Swanberg, Blodgett. For the creation and development of the Preserving Oregon's Artistic Heritage educational video series.
 
 

Heritage Conference

Information

Grants

Heritage Grants
Museum Grants
 
Page updated: May 14, 2008

Get Adobe Acrobat ReaderAdobe Reader is required to view PDF files. Click the "Get Adobe Reader" image to get a free download of the reader from Adobe.