Lane County History Museum is committed to showing high-quality exhibits. These exhibits are created with original research from our archives and show artifacts from our collections not available anywhere else. In order to show you the best history possible, we also partner with organizations in our community to create content that will excite and inform!
The Blue Vesper: Maude Irvine Kerns
Learn about the history and legacy of Maude Kerns, featuring nonobjective works. In partnership with the Maude Kerns Art Center.
The Farm Workers Rights Movement
The Exhibit Features:
- The Delano, California grape strike, formation of the United Farm Workers Union, and the lettuce strikes and boycott.
- Formation of the Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers and its community support activities, including the lettuce, grape, Safeway, and Gallo boycotts.
- Eugene Friends of the Farm Workers’ campaigns at Lane Community College and the University of Oregon with LCC Chicano Student Union and UO MeChA
- Legacy of the Farm Workers’ Rights Movement in California, Oregon, and Lane County
The Esther Mae Ralph Collection
A collection of artifacts from Lane County’s first female sheriff’s deputy. Learn about her challenges regarding the position as well as her other pursuits.
Also spot the two watercolor paintings by Ralph hanging in the reception area.
The Boat the River Built
View a gorgeous 1959 wooden drift boat built by Prince Helfrich, and learn its’ story. The donor of the boat, Wally Larsen, said:
For me, Dad’s boat handles like a sports car. An aluminum boat feels like a bus in comparison.