Following the discovery of gold in the winter of 1851-2, Jacksonville, Oregon,
became a melting pot of races, classes, and cultures as ambitious individuals
pursued the promise of riches. The offer of free land brought settlers
seeking opportunity. The influx of miners and settlers attracted merchants
with goods to sell and opportunists of all kinds.
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. brings the history of Jacksonville and
Southern Oregon to life through the stories of the people, places, and things
that have contributed to who we are today.
Take a look at the differences 125 years can make
in our lifestyles and stories!
Daily Life Then and Now!
1900 vs. 2025
Close your eyes and try to imagine your life without your smart phone – for that matter, without any phone at all. What if you had no computer or Internet connection of any kind? Could you live without TV or radio?
And that’s just the beginning as we invite you to travel back 125 years for a “retro” tour of daily life in 1900. You’ll be visiting communication, fashion, entertainment, etiquette, chores, home “amenities,” and much more – things we take for granted like HVAC, running water, and…bathrooms!
Forty-five minute tours begin every 20-30 minutes between 12n and 3pm on Saturday, April 19 at
1870s C.C. Beekman House
470 E. California Street
Jacksonville, OR 97530
Tour admission is $8 (cash or check at the door).
Click here for more information!
And we’re so excited that
David Gordon
is returning for a special fundraiser for the new
Jacksonville Museum!
May 4th, 3pm
for
Love Songs from around the World!
David Gordon, our favorite Northwest Troubadour, is returning with a special fundraising concert for our new Jacksonville Museum! For this special occasion he’ll be singing in “The International Language” of “Love Songs from Around the World.”
David will be drawing from his repertoire of English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Old Scots music. He will also be singing one of the first love songs ever to be written down – an amazing love song from around 1160 in the language of Medieval Provencal, written by a troubadour for Eleanor of Aquitaine, Duchess of Aquitaine, Queen of France, and Queen of England! And as always, David will be sharing the stories behind the songs.
The concert will begin at 3pm on the 2nd floor of Jacksonville’s New City Hall at 206 North 5th Street. Parking is available on site and adjacent areas. Tickets are general admission and reservations are required.
You’ll find additional information and tickets at https://historicjacksonville.org/david-gordon/.
David Gordon is a renowned acoustic guitarist and storyteller. The Washington Post called him “an irresistible performer.” He’s a life-long troubadour whose compelling voice, keen sense of drama, and wacky humor have charmed audiences worldwide for more than 40 years. David’s international performing and recording career in classical and acoustic music reaches from Bach to bluegrass, from grand opera to jazz, from Mozart to songs of the Oregon Trail.
And speaking of
Jacksonville’s
New Museum…
Jacksonville’s 1881 “Old City Hall” building will become the ADA accessible hub for a “Museum without Walls” that incorporates the town’s entire National Historic Landmark District (the first one on the West Coast)!
Our Old City Hall museum base will give you an interactive overview of Jacksonville history and share the many ways that you can explore it through walking tours, Haunted History, trolley rides, photo exhibits, programs and presentations, and more!
And we’re adding a new self-guided walking or driving tour that can be downloaded onto your smart phone or tablet. It will let you choose from existing tours, create your own tour based on your interests or available time, or provide you with information about the history of where you are. Every stop includes a photo of your location and its name, a short audio narration of its history with a photo loop of historic images, a text version of the audio, and an opportunity to explore further!
Grants and partnerships with the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Boosters Foundation, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, foundations and individuals are underwriting the initial design and infrastructure portion of the project. We would welcome your participation as well!
Please consider a donation to Historic Jacksonville, Inc. to help underwrite the project, capital construction, exhibits, and/or audio tours that will share our town’s storied history. It’s as easy as a click on our Donate button!
In the meantime, stay tuned for more museum information!
And please welcome the newest member of our
Meet Monty, a 7-year-old Labradoodle who loves
to have his photo taken in locations around Jacksonville!
He also likes chin scratches, lounging on furniture, and keeping tabs on his humans. And did we mention that he will gladly do tricks for doggie treats.
Historic Jacksonville’s Walkabout Wednesday Club is a tribute to Storm Large, Jacksonville’s Great Dane “history ambassador.” Every Wednesday for over 7 years, Storm shared our town’s historic sites along with their stories. Club members continue her legacy.
We always welcome new club members, so if you are willing to pose and photograph your dog in front of one of Jacksonville’s many historic sites and share that image with the public, please let us know!
Contact info@historicjacksonville.org and we’ll give you some photography “tips.”
In the meantime, click here to check out the exploits of our Walkabout Wednesday Club, members.
And don’t forget there are always lots of virtual ways to
Explore Historic Jacksonville!
Want an overview? Watch our 30 minute video.
Want a quick sample? Check out our daily Facebook and Instagram posts.
Want to dig deeper? Visit one of the 50 sites on our Walk through History blog.
Enjoy a visit to the historic C.C. Beekman House when
Mrs. Julia Beekman “Invites You to Call”
for a tour of her 1873 home.
Or visit many of Jacksonville’s original residences through our 45 minute
“Step Back in Time” Historic Home video!
Tour Jacksonville’s pioneer cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest that has remained in continuous use through our new 45 minute
Pioneer Cemetery tour.
View Jacksonville through the eyes of local pets as they sniff out the
history and stories of local sites each week in our
Walkabout Wednesday series.
Join us for our on-going “Thirsty Thursday” saloon series featuring early Jacksonville stories of beer, wine, whiskey, saloons, and “entrepreneurs”!
So many ways to see the places and learn about the people who transformed a gold rush town into the 19th Century commercial, governmental, and social hub of Southern Oregon! Enjoy the treasure trove of Jacksonville History on this website plus daily history trivia on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Find out how interesting and fun history can be!
Jacksonville 1883 (lithograph)
When Oregon was admitted to the Union in 1859, Jacksonville was the largest inland trade center in the new state, and Jacksonville and its residents played a dominant role in early Oregon history and statehood. But when the railroad by-passed Jacksonville in the 1880s, the town slowly sank into oblivion. However, that oblivion also proved to be the town’s salvation, preserving the historic buildings, homes, and character that you see today—Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District. Today, these landmarks live again through the efforts of the City of Jacksonville, volunteers, and private owners so that you can again experience Jacksonville in its heyday.