Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center To Open For Spring Break March 24 And March 27-30 (Photo) -03/13/25

JOHN DAY, Oregon— Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site Interpretive Center will open its doors during the week of spring break before reopening for the full season.

The Interpretive Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 and March 27-30. The Kam Wah Chung building and museum will remain closed due to nearby construction. 

Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site is a National Historic Landmark that preserves the home and businesses of two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On. For more than 60 years the building was a social, medical and religious center for Oregon's Chinese community and the region.

“While visitors might not be able to experience the museum itself this spring break, they can learn about this incredible heritage site through exhibits at the Interpretive Center,” said OPRD Eastern District Manager Kirk Barham.

The center will also host information about the new visitor center, which is slated to break ground in Spring 2026. The Kam Wah Chung Interpretive Center is at 125 NW Canton Street in John Day. For more information visit the park webpage or call 541-575-2800.

Spring Whale Watch Week Returns To The Oregon Coast For Spring Break 2025 (Photo) -03/13/25

OREGON COAST, Oregon— Oregon State Parks will host Spring Whale Watch Week along the Oregon Coast Saturday, March 22 through Sunday, March 30.

Trained Oregon State Park volunteers and rangers will be stationed at 14 sites along the Oregon Coast to help visitors spot whales and their calves and answer questions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily March 22-30. The sites are some of the best places to watch for whales on the Oregon Coast.  Cape Foulweather will not be included this year because it is closed due to construction.

“Spring is a great time for whale watching because the gray whales are usually closer to shore on their return trip, typically around a mile or so out, and they might have calves in tow,” said Park Ranger Peter McBride.

An estimated 19,260 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores from late winter through June as part of their annual migration back to Alaska.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced an end to an Unusual Mortality Event impacting gray whales in 2023. Since then, the estimated population has increased by roughly 30% from 14,530 in 2023 to 19,260 last year, according to NOAA. The numbers are on the rise overall, but the calf count is still low as the population continues to rebound.

Whale Watch Week provides an opportunity to see not only the gray whales but other coastal wildlife including birds and other marine mammals with help from trained volunteers and rangers.

A map of volunteer-staffed sites is available online on the official event webpage: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=thingstodo.dsp_whaleWatching

The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 22-30. Visitors to the center can enjoy interactive whale exhibits and take in the panoramic ocean views. Binoculars are provided. Rangers from Oregon State Parks will also be on hand to answer questions about the whales.

All Whale Watch Week visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather, to bring binoculars and to follow beach safety guidelines such as remaining out of fenced areas, knowing the tide schedule and keeping an eye on the surf at all times. Go to https://visittheoregoncoast.com/beach-safety/ for a list of safety tips.

For more information about coast parks and campgrounds, visit stateparks.oregon.gov.

Visitors are encouraged to share their photos and videos from Spring Whale Watch on social media using #OregonStateParks and #ORWhaleWatch.

Media Resources: photos available at this link.

Learn About Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center Project At Open House March 19 -03/12/25

JOHN DAY, Oregon— Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is hosting an open house 4 to 6 p.m. March 19 to share information about the Kam Wah Chung Visitor Center project, which is slated to break ground in spring 2026.

OPRD is finalizing construction documents for the new visitor center and will put the project out for bid this fall. Construction will start as soon as spring 2026.

You’re invited to learn more about the project during an open house 4 to 6 p.m. March 19 at the Kam Wah Chung Interpretative Center, 125 NW Canton Street in John Day.

“The new visitor center will enhance the visitor experience, help preserve the museum collection and provide additional education space,” said Eastern District Manager Kirk Barham.

The new visitor center is anticipated to include:

• Expanded interpretive areas 
• Classroom which may double as a community meeting space
• Restrooms
• Collection processing and archive storage
• Office space for staff

The visitor’s center will open as soon as spring 2028. OPRD will post information about the project and visitor impacts on the park webpage and GO Bond page.

Respect Nesting Areas To Protect Threatened Snowy Plover On The Oregon Coast March 15 - Sept. 15 (Photo) -03/12/25

Corvallis, Ore., March 13, 2025 – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Siuslaw National Forest remind visitors to the Oregon coast that it is plover nesting season ­— beachgoers can help recovery efforts for the threatened western snowy plover March 15 to Sept. 15.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Signs may be present at trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and no dogs even on a leash, to help protect the small shorebirds and their exposed nests during this crucial period. Visitors may also see rope fencing in dry sand areas; this fencing delineates some, but not all, of the critical plover habitat that should be avoided.

Recreation restrictions occur in designated plover management areas: stretches of beach along the coastline where plovers nest or might nest. These areas combined make up about 40 miles of Oregon's 362 miles of shoreline.

Seasonal recreation restrictions have helped protect these small birds that nest on open sand along Oregon’s beaches. Nests, and especially chicks, are well-camouflaged. During the nesting season, human disturbances can flush adult plovers away from their nests as they attempt to defend their young. Left alone too long, or too often, eggs or chicks can die from exposure, predators or people.

Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches March 15-Sept. 15:

• The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating electric-assisted bicycles, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones.
• Foot and equestrian traffic are permitted below the high-tide line on hard packed sand.
• Respect signs and barriers to protect nesting habitat.

“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed western snowy plovers as a threatened species in 1993, when officials counted only 45 breeding adults. The numbers of breeding adults have steadily increased since then due to ongoing efforts. Officials counted 440 during the breeding season survey in 2024.

“We appreciate visitors' support in keeping these shorebirds safe in the combined 40 miles of protected area along the coast. We invite visitors to enjoy permitted recreation in those areas or to recreate without seasonal restrictions on the hundreds of miles of beaches not designated as plover nesting areas,” said Laurel Hillmann, ocean shore specialist for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

More information on the snowy plover, including detailed maps of nesting sites, can be found on the Oregon State Parks website (oregon.gov/plovers) and on the Siuslaw National Forest website (https://t.ly/AKPAN). Visitors to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Sand Lake Recreation Area can review Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) maps to identify unrestricted recreation areas and information on riding motor vehicles on the sand.

New plover activity   

Plovers have been found nesting in new or historical nesting sites. For example, plover nests have been identified at the Sand Lake Recreation Area, near the lake’s inlet, every year the last few years. Beachgoers can protect these birds by recreating on the wet sand areas, avoiding roped off nesting areas, observing trail kiosks and signs, packing all trash out and keeping dogs on leash.

Background on plover protections

Several land managers oversee beach activity for plover protection, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFW).

Habitat loss from invasive plants — as well as human disturbances, including litter and discarded food scraps that attract predators — have contributed to the birds’ decline. The Oregon Dunes Restoration Collaborative, saveoregondunes.org, is working with land managers on a restoration strategy and to raise public awareness about the need to restore the dunes ecosystem for western snowy plovers, rare plants and animals and the unique recreation opportunities offered here.

Editors: photos are available at this link.

National Park Service Lists Burkes-Belluschi House In Portland, Multnomah County, In The National Register Of Historic Places (Photo) -03/07/25

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Burkes-Belluschi House is among Oregon’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at their October 2024 meeting for its significance in the area of architecture as the work of master architect Pietro Belluschi. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted this nomination on February 7, 2025.
 

Located in northwest Portland’s Westover Terrace subdivision, the Burkes-Belluschi House was designed by Pietro Belluschi for Dr. D. C. Burkes and his wife Genevieve in 1944; due to World War II shortages, construction was not completed until 1948. In designing the house, Belluschi worked closely with the Burkes, who admired modernist architecture and in particular the International Style. Belluschi himself was a leading in developing the Northwest Regional Style, and he was sensitive to the house’s siting as well as its design and materials. The result is a house with expansive city views, a flat roof and deep eaves, ribbon-like windows, woven wood ceilings, and fireplaces of Mt. Adams stone. This is Belluschi’s only residential design in western Oregon to display elements of both the International and Northwest Regional styles of architecture.
 

After retiring as dean of M.I.T.’s School of Architecture and Planning in 1965, Pietro Belluschi and his wife Marjorie returned to Portland, acquiring the house from Genevieve Burkes and making it their last personal residence. Pietro Belluschi passed away in 1994, and Marjorie in 2009. The current owners of the Burkes-Belluschi House are Anthony and Martha (Marti) Belluschi, who engaged Diana Painter of Painter Preservation to prepare the nomination. The Burkes-Belluschi House is the ninth Belluschi-designed property in Oregon, and the sixth in Portland, to be listed in the National Register.
 

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;

• Eligible for federal tax benefits;

• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading “Designate”).

National Park Service Lists Lee-Janouch House In Medford, Jackson County In The National Register Of Historic Places (Photo) -03/07/25

MEDFORD, Ore. – The Lee-Janouch House is among Oregon’s latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at their October 2024 meeting for its significance as an excellent and rare example of National Park Service Rustic or Cascadian architecture as used for a private residence. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted this nomination in late January 2025.
 

Located at the corner of East Main Street and Willamette Avenue in Medford, the Lee-Janouch House was constructed in 1934 by Isaac “Ike” Davidson, the building superintendent of Crater Lake National Park. Davidson sourced the stone used in the house’s distinctive masonry façade from the park and engaged National Park Service personnel, techniques, and equipment in its construction. He later pled guilty to misuse of federal funding and served as the primary witness in a related case against his supervisor, Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Elbert C. Solinsky. The trial received national coverage, and both men were terminated from the Park Service and served prison time as a result. 
 

Despite the building’s residential setting, the materials and design of the Lee-Janouch House echo the Rustic or Cascadian style associated with the National Park Service. The building is constructed from locally sourced masonry with redwood board-and-batten siding in the gable ends and simple interior finishes. The exterior walls exhibit the distinctive “Crater Lake wall treatment” characterized by battered stone walls that taper inward from bottom to top. Crater Lake’s Sinnott Memorial, built in 1931 during Davidson’s tenure as building superintendent, was reportedly the first structure to use this building technique. Its use in the Lee-Janouch House underlines the property’s association with Crater Lake and the National Park Service’s characteristic architectural style.
 

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;

• Eligible for federal tax benefits;

• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
 

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading “Designate”).

ATV Grant Subcommittee To Review Applications, Make Recommendations March 21 (Photo) -03/07/25

SALEM, Oregon— The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Grant Subcommittee will meet March 21 to review applications and make funding recommendations.

The meeting is open to the public with the option to attend in person at the Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn, 3125 Ryan Drive SE, Salem or via Zoom Webinar as an “attendee.”

The subcommittee will review 8 applications totaling $818,718 related to ATV program funding throughout Oregon for law enforcement, emergency medical services, safety education and development projects. The ATV Grant Program provides funding statewide for All-Terrain Vehicle recreation. Grant funds come from ATV user permit sales and a percentage of gasoline tax revenue.

To attend meeting virtually:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86351823619?pwd=nt0KzEwD5jlNkRWudj2Gfpo8GKPt1s.1
Webinar ID: 863 5182 3619
Passcode: 087845
Or Telephone: (253) 215-8782

The meeting will begin 8 a.m. March 21 with grant presentations starting at 9:30 a.m. The subcommittee will finalize scores and make recommendations after the last presentation.

View the full agenda and schedule online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-atv.aspx#2. Special accommodations for this meeting may be arranged up to 72 hours in advance to improve accessibility by emailing ian.caldwell@oprd.oregon.gov.

The subcommittee will provide recommendations on grant funding to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department director for referral to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.

More information about the state ATV program is available at www.OregonATV.gov

Oregon State Parks To Hire More Than 200 Seasonal Rangers, Ranger Assistants (Photo) -03/06/25

SALEM, Oregon— Oregon State Parks will hire more than 200 seasonal Rangers and Ranger Assistants for positions across the state for the 2025 season.

Hiring starts as soon as this month and runs through about June with new positions listed on a rolling basis on the website. The positions last anywhere from four to nine months. Most seasonal staff work April through September, but some start as early as this month or work as late as December.

Seasonal staff help visitors access world-class experiences and ensure clean and safe park areas for everyone to enjoy. Duties include janitorial work, landscape maintenance, visitor education and visitor services.

Salaries start at $19.78 per hour for seasonal assistants and $23.21 for seasonal rangers. Both positions include comprehensive medical, vision and dental plans for employees and qualified family members. The positions also include paid sick leave, vacation, personal leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Student workers, ages 16 and older, start at $19.77 or more per hour depending on experience.

Several of Oregon State Parks’ top leaders started their careers as seasonal employees including all three Region Directors.

“We believe in growing leadership from within. We invest in our staff and provide pathways for advancement whether you’re here for a season or your entire career,” said Director Lisa Sumption.

Seasonal staff gain valuable skills working with experienced Rangers at parks around the state. The first wave of openings include positions along the coast from Washburne to Cape Lookout; the Willamette Valley including Silver Falls and Detroit Lake; the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon including Wallowa Lake and Lake Owyhee.

For more information about current openings, visit stateparks.oregon.gov. If you have any questions or need additional assistance in accessibility or alternative formats, please email Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Recruiting OPRD.Recruiting@oprd.oregon.gov.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, committed to diversity and pay equity.

Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Rule Updates For Electric Assisted Bicycles -02/28/25

SALEM, Oregon -- Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comments on proposed rule updates to electric assisted (e-assisted) bicycle use at Oregon State Parks and the ocean shore now through April 1.

The proposed updates clarify definitions of e-assisted bicycles, outline areas for operation and prohibited areas of operation and set safe usage requirements for the operator, other visitors and park resources. The updates would allow access for e-assisted bicycles in many of the same ways that non-electric bicycles access parks and the ocean shore with some caveats and safety requirements.

An internal workgroup developed the proposed updates after extensive research and conversations with partner agencies, subject matter experts and the Rules Advisory Committee (RAC). The agency conducted a public survey in summer 2024 to better understand the use and needs. The proposed updates seek to maintain access to recreation for enjoyment while protecting natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational sites and resources.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed updates through 5 p.m. Apr. 1, 2025:

• Submit comments online on the rules webpage

• Attend a virtual public hearing Monday, Mar. 17 or Wednesday Mar. 26 at 5:30 p.m. 

  • Registration required to provide public comment:

    • March 17: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/e7Lq4SFxQlydbakYVdChRA

    • March 26: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/uI1aQyDqTO-R978FijzOVA

  • Watch the hearing: https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams

Individuals who require special accommodations to view the meetings should contact Jo Niehaus at least three days in advance of the meeting at jo.niehaus@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-580-9210.

The RAC met four times in 2024 to suggest changes to current rules and discuss potential impacts from the changes. The committee included diverse stakeholders who currently use state parks and those who have faced barriers. Members included park visitors with different recreational focuses including cyclists and e-bicyclists, mountain bikers, trail groups, representatives from the disability community, equestrians, environmental conservationists, wildlife experts, other land management agencies and members of law enforcement. Those meetings are also posted online at https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams.

Once the public comment period ends, the proposal with any incorporated updates will go to Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission in April or June for possible adoption. Implementation is expected in July after the agency can update any necessary signs and maps.

###

Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Closure Of Ocean Shore To Vehicles Near Manzanita -02/28/25

SALEM, Oregon--Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is seeking public comment on a proposed rule change that would restrict vehicle access along the ocean shore near Manzanita.

Under current ocean shore vehicle restrictions in Tillamook County (OAR 736-024-0015), the portion of the beach adjacent to Manzanita permits limited vehicle access--between October 1 and April 30, from 7 AM to noon. Additionally, vehicles for boat launching are allowed any time during the year.

Manzanita's City Council passed a resolution requesting the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission open rulemaking to prohibit vehicle use on this section of the beach year-round. The council determined that driving on the ocean shore at any time during the year is no longer compatible with growing beach recreation, ecosystem preservation, and public safety.

Public comments on the proposed rule change will be accepted through 5 p.m. April 7, 2025, and can be submitted:

• Online: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-Rule-2023-Manzanita%20Ocean%20Shore%20Vehicle%20Restrictions.aspx

• Mail: OPRD Department, attn: Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301

• Email: OPRD.Publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov

• Attend the virtual Public Hearing:  

  • Monday, March 24, 5:30 PM. Registration required to provide public comment: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ymEpgyxLT8KaOnLxjkAHvg

  • Watch the Public Hearing: Watch the hearing: https://www.youtube.com/@oprddirectorsoffice5783/streams

Once the public comment period ends, Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission will consider possible adoption at a meeting in the spring or fall of this year.

###

Oregon Main Street Adds One New Designated Main Street And Four New Affiliated Main Street Communities To The Network -02/26/25

SALEM, Oregon -- Oregon Main Street (OMS) has accepted Baker City Downtown at the Designated Main Street level of the Oregon Main Street Network and added Downtown Bend Business Association, Corvallis Downtown Organization, Main Street Mosier, and the Yamhill Downtown Association at the Affiliated Main Street level of the OMS Network.

Communities participating at these levels have a high degree of commitment to using the nationally recognized place-based Main Street Approach(TM) methodology to create lasting impact in enhancing their historic downtowns.

They must have a cohesive core of historic or older commercial and mixed-use buildings that represent the community's architectural heritage and may include compatible in-fill. They must also have a sufficient mass of businesses, buildings, and density to be effective, as well as be a compact and pedestrian-oriented district.

The Designated Main Street level is a mark of distinction that reflects a demonstrated effort to building, growing, and sustaining a main street organization to support efforts to improve a community's historic downtown by leveraging partnerships and engaging community members. Communities at this level have access to technical assistance to help them continue to strengthen their efforts and impact.

The primary emphasis of the Affiliated Main Street level is to provide technical assistance to programs in their formative years of developing and implementing the Main Street Approach(TM).  Acceptance into this level allows communities to participate in training, community assessments, technical assistance, and receive local capacity building support.

The selection process included submitting an application that describes their district, previous efforts to improve downtown, commitment to implementing the Main Street Approach(TM), board development efforts, partnerships, in addition to other criteria. 

Currently, there are over 100 communities in Oregon participating in one of the four levels of the Oregon Main Street Network: Accredited Main Street, Designated Main Street, Affiliated Main Street, and Connected Communities. There isn't a fee to participate in the Oregon Main Street Network. Oregon Main Street is part of Oregon Heritage in Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

Recreational Trails Program Advisory Committee Meets March 4-5 To Evaluate Grant Applications -02/21/25

SALEM, Oregon-- The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Advisory Committee will meet in Salem on March 4-5, 2025, to evaluate grant applications from around the state for projects that support the development or improvement of recreational trails. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) administers this federally funded grant program.
 

The meeting is open to the public, but there will not be time for public comments during the meeting. The committee will evaluate 29 applications over the two days. Approximately $2 million of RTP grant funds are available.

The meeting will be held in person with an option to attend via Zoom. Meeting details, including the agenda, meeting location address and list of project proposals, are available here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Documents/RTP-Grant-Meeting-March2025.pdf
 

After reviewing the applications, the RTP Advisory Committee will make funding recommendations to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission for review and approval at the Commission's April meeting. Approved project proposals will then be sent to the Federal Highway Administration for final approval. 
 

The RTP Advisory Committee consists of 10 members who represent various trail user groups and land managers. Eligible RTP applicants include local governments, state agencies, federal land management agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations.
 

RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration. The program provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both nonmotorized and motorized uses, including hiking, biking, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, paddling, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, all-terrain vehicle riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles. Learn more about RTP here: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/GRA/Pages/GRA-rtp.aspx. 
 

For more information contact Jodi Bellefeuille, Program Coordinator at 503-856-6316 or Jodi.bellefeuille@oprd.oregon.gov, or visit the RTP webpage on the OPRD website. If special accommodations are needed to attend the meeting, contact Jodi Bellefeuille at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
 

###

National Park Service Lists Juniper House In Portland, Multnomah County, In The National Register Of Historic Places (Photo) -02/18/25

The Juniper House is among Oregon's latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at their October 2024 meeting for its statewide significance as Oregon's first end-of-life care home dedicated exclusively to residents with HIV/AIDS and for its substantial impact on statewide healthcare and LGBTQ+ history. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted this nomination on February 10, 2025.
 

Located on a corner lot in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood, Juniper House was constructed as a single-family residence around 1902. Co-founders John Trevitts, Doug Foland, and Jan Weyeneth converted the building into an HIV/AIDS end-of-life care home in 1987. In the process, the co-founders made several interior renovations but retained the building's exterior appearance to ensure the safety and discretion of residents during a period marked by widespread stigma and systemic discrimination of people with HIV/AIDS. From May 1987 to September 1989, Juniper House filled a critical void in Oregon's healthcare system by offering medical care as well as emotional support and a sense of peace, community, and normalcy for residents. Its influence extended well beyond Portland, as it inspired the establishment of several similar end-of-life care facilities around the state. Over its period of operation, about 90 individuals with HIV/AIDS received care in the house.
 

In addition to caring for residents, the work of Juniper House included advocacy and educational efforts that were crucial in shaping public opinion and responses to HIV/AIDS. Through their efforts, the co-founders demonstrated that Juniper House residents and all individuals with HIV/AIDS deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion. Press and local news outlets were invited to Juniper House and produced documentary features for both KGW-TV and Oregon Public Broadcasting in the late 1980s. Juniper House also contributed a panel featuring the names of several residents to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was displayed on the National Mall in October 1996.
 

Recognition of Juniper House in the National Register of Historic Places aligns with the goals of the 2024-2033 Oregon Preservation Plan, which calls for diversification of Oregon resources listed in the National Register and continued efforts to uplift the voices of historically marginalized individuals and communities. By including more perspectives in the stories told of Oregon's past, Oregonians can think critically about history and work to accurately depict a more complete historical narrative of Oregon. The nomination for the Juniper House was completed as a component of the City of Portland's LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, which was funded by an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service, an Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Heritage Grant, and general fund dollars allocated by the Portland City Council.
 

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;
• Eligible for federal tax benefits;
• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.
   

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
 

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading "Designate").

National Park Service Lists Dr. Edward And Anne McLean House In West Linn, Clackamas County In The National Register Of Historic Places (Photo) -02/14/25

WEST LINN, Ore. -- The Dr. Edward and Anne McLean House is among Oregon's latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at their October 2024 meeting for its significant association with the development of a very early prepaid healthcare organization designed to serve local millworkers and their families during the Great Depression, as well as for its architectural merit. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted this nomination in late January 2025.

Located on the southern bank of the Willamette River in West Linn's Bolton Neighborhood, the McLean House was designed and constructed by the Henderson-Bankus Company for Dr. Edward and Anne McLean in 1927. The house exhibits a modified or eclectic Colonial Revival style with its symmetrical side-gabled form, original multilight wood windows, entry portico, and English Cottage-style rolled-edge roof. The interior retains many original features including walnut baseboards and trim, oak flooring, a primary staircase with turned balusters, and a fireplace with classical pilasters, entablature, and glazed tile surround.
 

While notable for its design, the McLean House is also significant for its association with the Physicians' Association of Clackamas County (PACC), a very early Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) using the prepaid medical care foundation model. Dr. Edward McLean, working from his home office, collaborated with Dr. William O. Steele, and Dr. John ("Jack") G. P. Cleland to develop the organization between 1932 and 1938, in the depths of the Great Depression. Their mission was to provide healthcare coverage that was high quality, affordable, and designed to fit the needs of area residents--many of them millworkers and their families--as well as physicians. The PACC was unique for its time, and it has since proved to be a national model for improving healthcare delivery.
 

The McLean House has been owned by the City of West Linn since 1969, and in addition to its recent listing in the National Register of Historic Places, it is also listed on the West Linn Historic Inventory.
 

The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:

• Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;

• Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;

• Eligible for federal tax benefits;

• Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;

• Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;

• Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.

State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
 

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading "Designate").