Portland, OR — Seventeen regional attractions have partnered to offer reciprocal admission to their members in 2024. This coming year, the program is excited to expand to now include three new attractions: Cannon Beach History Center, The Museum at Warm Springs, and Pittock Mansion. This reciprocal admission program, which had been running for seven years, was created as a way to show appreciation for each attraction’s loyal members as well as highlight the important role that cultural organizations play in their communities.

From January through December 2024, membership to one of the participating organizations is your key to free admission for a member and three guests of any age to a different attraction each month.

Memberships provide critical funding that allows each participating organization to further its mission. Join one (or more!) of the participating organizations to show your support for these immersive educational institutions. Or, purchase a gift membership as the perfect holiday gift!

Mark your calendar for the 2024 reciprocal admission schedule and some of the highlights visitors can expect from participating attractions. Offer applies to all membership levels. Valid proof of membership and photo ID required. 

2024 Reciprocal Admission Program:

January: Oregon Zoo (oregonzoo.org)

Valid for daytime admission only, does not include Zoo Lights. 

February TWO ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT!

Columbia River Maritime Museum (crmm.org)

Founded in 1962 with the mission to collect and preserve historical and cultural material relevant to the Columbia River, the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a private nonprofit organization designated as the official maritime museum of the State of Oregon. Built on the banks of the great Columbia River, the Museum is designed to integrate the incredible unfolding scenery of the Columbia River directly outside the panoramic windows. ​Experience the Columbia River in all its splendor and fascination in the Brix Maritime Hall, bringing to life the rich maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. 

Pittock Mansion (pittockmansion.org)

Built in 1914 as the home of Henry and Georgiana Pittock, Pittock Mansion is a historic house museum that tells the story of Portland’s transformation from a pioneer town to a modern, industrialized city. Visitors to Pittock Mansion can enjoy the full Pittock Campus which includes the Mansion, Gate Lodge (home of the estate steward), Garage, and beautifully landscaped grounds with sweeping views of downtown Portland. Guests will also have the last chance to view the stunning art exhibition, Eliza Barchus: A Woman of Resilience which runs through February 11, 2024. This exhibition features over sixty-five landscape paintings by the award-winning, early Oregon artist and is the largest exhibition of her art and ephemera ever displayed. View the video at https://youtu.be/cVoHl4IHY7c.

March  TWO ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT!

Cannon Beach History Center (cbhistory.org)

The Cannon Beach History Center will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest with their newest exhibit, 60 Years of Sandcastles, opening March 2024. 

Oregon Historical Society (ohs.org)

The Oregon Historical Society shares its vast collection through thought-provoking, interactive museum exhibitions that make history visible and accessible. Three floors of permanent and traveling exhibitions feature rare documents and objects, and explore the people, places, and events that have shaped the history of Oregon and America. During March, visitors can also enjoy the final months of Birds of the Pacific Coast: The Illustrations of R. Bruce Horsfall, which features over 50 vibrant hand drawn illustrations of local birds preserved in OHS’s permanent collection.

April  TWO ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT!

Deepwood Museum & Gardens (deepwood museum.org) 

Deepwood Museum & Gardens’ Queen Anne museum home, built in 1894, transports visitors back to the Victorian era. During Deepwood’s featured month the museum will have a special exhibit of antique umbrellas for “April showers” and parasols for strolling in the sun enjoying “May flowers.” Plus, the historic gardens of Deepwood start to bring the colors and beauty of spring during April visits. 

Hallie Ford Museum of Art (willamette.edu/arts/hfma)
Located in the heart of Salem at Willamette University, the museum invites you to explore permanent galleries featuring works by Pacific Northwest and Indigenous artists and a diverse collection of Ancient, European, American, and Asian art. Special exhibitions in April include Singular Visions: Self-Taught Artists from the Permanent Collection, on view through April 22; and Senior Art Majors 2024 and Alexandra Opie: What Remains, opening April 23. 

May: Architectural Heritage Center (visitahc.org)

Did you know May is National Preservation Month? There’s no better way to learn about preservation, Portland history, and architecture than by visiting the Architectural Heritage Center (AHC) or joining AHC for one of its well-loved walking tours or other public programs! The AHC loves to introduce people to Portland’s beautiful architecture and neighborhoods. Visit the AHC’s historic West’s Block building to view artifacts from its collections and to learn more about Portland and the built environment. Stop by at 701 SE Grand Ave and get to know the AHC!

June  TWO ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT!

Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (ojmche.org)

In June 2017 Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education opened the doors of its permanent home at 724 NW Davis Street, on the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland. The museum’s main gallery features rotating exhibitions of national and international stature. Four core exhibits anchor the museum: Discrimination and Resistance, An Oregon Primer, which identifies discrimination as a tool used to affect varied groups of people over the history of this region; The Holocaust, An Oregon Perspective, a history of the Holocaust that employs the stories of Oregon survivors; Oregon Jewish Stories, an installation focused on the experience of the Jews of Oregon; and Human Rights After the Holocaust, an exhibit that calls on visitors to ponder the work needed to achieve dignity and rights for all persons.

Clark County Historical Museum (cchmuseum.org)

Have you ever wondered where the PNW’s love for hops and IPAs began? Or who was the first female riverboat captain on the Columbia? There’s so much to discover as you explore the stories of the people that called Clark County home! CCHMuseum is celebrating 60 years as Clark County, Washington’s, history keepers! Take a step back in time with its newest exhibit, Through the Decades: Sixty Years @ CCHMuseum. Opening May 24, 2024, this exhibition features objects and archival materials chronicling the museum’s history. Learn more about what they have in store online and through social media (@cchmuseum).

July: The Museum at Warm Springs (museumatwarmsprings.org). 
The Museum at Warm Springs opened its doors to the public on March 14, 1993. Built to Smithsonian Institution professional standards, The Museum’s mission is to preserve, advance, and share the traditions, cultural, and artistic heritage of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon, and other Indigenous peoples. Visit Saddle Up! Ranchers and Rodeo Life of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, on view June 26 through September 23, 2024.

August: Five Oaks Museum (fiveoaksmuseum.org)

Replenish the Root: Six Centuries of Gathering Under the Oaks brings visitors deep into the story of the site this museum took their name from, where a grove of five Oregon white oaks, just a couple miles from Five Oaks Museum, have borne witness to centuries of community and environmental changes. The exhibition invites us to learn, through objects, photographs, and art, about the people who have gathered there for over 600 years and our communal relationship with Oregon white oak savannas.

September: Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals (ricenorthwestmuseum.org) 

The Rice Museum is nestled in a park-like setting amongst 23 acres of old-growth evergreen trees. It houses a world-class collection of minerals, rocks, gems, fossils, and meteorites. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its unique architectural style, natural stonework, and extraordinary native Oregon woodwork found throughout the building. The Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate, one of only three in Oregon. The Affiliation serves as an endorsement of the quality of a museum’s facilities, the training and professionalism of its staff, and its mission to educate the public. 

October TWO ATTRACTIONS TO VISIT!

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (evergreenmuseum.org)

Soar through decades of aerospace innovation at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Discover more than 150 aircraft, spacecraft, and exhibits that tell the story of flight and space exploration with unique historic artifacts, including American aviation icon the Spruce Goose, SR-71 Blackbird, and the Titan II Space Launch Vehicle with its original launch room.

World Forestry Center (worldforestry.org)

Located in Portland’s forested Washington Park just steps from the MAX Light Rail, World Forestry Center’s Discovery Museum invites visitors to examine forests and consider all the ways they impact our lives. The dramatic 20,000-square-foot wooden building has been a Portland icon since 1971. Visitors get a bird’s-eye view of a northwest forest, explore society’s connection to the woods, and learn about the challenges and opportunities facing this critical natural resource.

November: Oregon Coast Aquarium (aquarium.org)

Founded in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is driven by its mission to create unique and engaging experiences that connect people to the Oregon coast and inspire ocean conservation through ocean education, conservation, and immersive experiences. The Oregon Coast Aquarium supports marine wildlife and fosters environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Located on 23 acres (9.3 hectares) along the Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon, the Oregon Coast Aquarium operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 

December: Lan Su Chinese Garden (lansugarden.org)

Much more than just a beautiful botanical garden, Lan Su is a creative wonder — a powerfully inspiring experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, history, architecture, design and nature in perfect harmony. Offering more than 500 cultural and botanical programs each year, Lan Su is a window into authentic Chinese culture and a platform for the Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
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Download press images of participating attractions here. 

About the Portland Attractions Marketing Alliance

The Portland Attractions Marketing Alliance (PAMA) is a professional organization consisting of marketing representatives from major attractions in Portland and beyond the metro area. The group connects regularly to explore partnership opportunities, ideas for cross-promotion, and collaboration with Travel Portland.

Minidoka Swing Band

Portland, OR — The holiday season is just around the corner, and the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) has events and exhibits to help get into the spirit of the season! Mark your calendar for these upcoming events at the Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205), many that are free and open to the all!

Holiday Cheer: A Celebration of Oregon Authors
Sunday, December 3, 12pm to 4pm

Join us as we kick off the holiday season with our annual celebration of Oregon’s literary talents, Holiday Cheer, on Sunday, December 3. Chat with 65+ local authors as you sip on hot cocoa, listen to carols, and get a jump on your holiday shopping!  

For 54 years, the Oregon Historical Society has celebrated the state’s rich literary talents at this annual book signing event. This year, some of the Pacific Northwest’s most prominent authors will be at OHS selling everything from children’s books to guidebooks to mysteries to histories! View a full list of participating authors at ohs.org/holidaycheer.

To add to the holiday cheer, The Dickens Carolers will be strolling through the museum performing lively holiday songs from 1:30pm–2:30pm. Holiday Cheer begins at noon at and authors will be signing until 4pm. Admission is free to both the book sale and to visit museum exhibitions, with OHS’s galleries open until 5pm. 

Book sales at Holiday Cheer support the Oregon Historical Society’s mission to preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places, and events that have shaped Oregon.

Meier & Frank Santaland Exhibit
On view December 1–31

When the downtown Macy’s department store closed in 2017, OHS had the opportunity to add items from the popular Meier & Frank Santaland attraction to its prop collection and begin a new holiday tradition: Santaland at the Oregon Historical Society. 

Visit this nostalgic vignette in our museum, which features items from the original Meier & Frank Santaland including Rudolph, animatronic elves, holiday decor, a model of the famous monorail, and even the famous Cinnamon Bear costume! Each year, our museum team adds a new “Easter egg” to the display; can you spot the difference this year?

Plus, Santa himself will make an appearance in Santaland on Sunday, December 10, from 1pm to 4pm. Take a photo with Santa as he sits atop the classic throne in Santaland for the perfect holiday snapshot! Museum admission will be free all day.

Minidoka Swing Band Concert
Thursday, December 7, 12pm to 1pm

The Minidoka Swing Band was formed in 2007 to remember the music and big bands that were popular inside World War II Japanese American incarceration camps to help make life more normal for the imprisoned incarcerees. The Oregon Historical Society is thrilled to host the Minidoka Swing Band for a concert on Pearl Harbor Day in our pavilion at noon. Admission is free and all are welcome.

The Minidoka Swing Band was formed by the late Roberta (Robbie) Tsuboi for a 2008 pilgrimage to the Minidoka Internment Camp. The band consists of 17 musicians and two vocalists, three of whom were incarcerated during WWII. Relatives of several bandmembers were also incarcerated. The band connects audiences to the time when all internees needed something to uplift them and help them feel typically American. 

The Minidoka Swing Band continues to play the music of The Harmonaires, a Seattle-based band formally known as the Mikados of Swing, as a tribute to Minidoka and all the internees who suffered a great loss during those difficult years. This performance will include narration between songs by Nola Sugai Bogle, who was incarcerated with her family at Minidoka.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For nearly 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all. We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and complex as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view. 

Portland, OR — There are approximately 250,000 veterans living in Oregon — about 2,500 who are World War II veterans. In honor of Veterans Day and the service of these individuals, the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) is offering free admission to all veterans, active-duty military, and their family members visiting with them, on Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12. Museum hours are 10am to 5pm Saturday and 12pm to 5pm Sunday. The Oregon Historical Society will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of Veterans Day. 

Current museum exhibitions include Our Unfinished Past: The Oregon Historical Society at 125, which chronicles our organization’s complex history and our mission to be the collective memory of Oregon. Also on view is Birds of the Pacific Coast, which features more than 50 original illustrations by R. Bruce Horsfall that were originally published in a book of the same name written by Willard Ayres Eliot. These illustrations were donated to OHS from Portland Audubon and are now part of our permanent collection. 

For those unable to visit this weekend, there are several Oregon Encyclopedia entries that provide insight into military history in Oregon and the ways our state has honored those who have worn the uniform of our country. Portland’s Veterans Memorial Coliseum and The Dalles Civic Auditorium and Veterans Memorial stand as two brick and mortar tributes to our veterans. The Vanport Extension Center (VEC) was created as an educational institution for WWII veterans, many of whom relied on tuition provided by the GI Bill. The VEC would eventually grow to become Portland State University. Jackson County’s Camp White, Deschutes County’s Camp Abbot, and Sherman County’s Camp Rufus housed many soldiers during World War II. 

Perhaps the most-used memorial to our veterans is the Sunset Highway, which connects the Portland area to the Oregon Coast. It is named after the 41st Infantry Division, which is also known as the “Sunset Division.” There are nearly 90 memorial highways across Oregon, including the recently designated section of Highway 35 near Hood River dedicated to Japanese American WWII veterans.

Museum admission is free every day for OHS members and Multnomah County residents. Learn more and plan your visit at ohs.org/visit.

About the Oregon Historical Society

For 125 years, the Oregon Historical Society has served as the state’s collective memory, preserving a vast collection of objects, photographs, maps, manuscript materials, books, films, and oral histories. Our research library, museum, digital platforms, educational programming, and historical journal make Oregon’s history open and accessible to all.We exist because history is powerful, and because a history as deep and rich as Oregon’s cannot be contained within a single story or point of view.