Oregon History Archives • BOOMERPDX

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JOIN OREGON HISTORY FOR THE PEOPLE

July 9, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

Oregon history is full of familiar names and places we remember from Mrs. Kraus’ third grade class. Statues around the state show them as they were. Their exploits are logged in libraries and museums. The Oregon Historical Society at 1200 SW Park, Portland Oregon is both museum and library. That’s a 2 for 1 if […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, education, historical society, learning, libraries, MARRIAGE, memories, millennials, museums, Oregon, oregon historical society, Oregon History, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMERS, Portland Oregon, travel, wife, writer, writers, writing

LOCAL HISTORY STUDENT + HOBBYIST = HISTORY FANS

July 6, 2026 by David Gillaspie Leave a Comment

What we have here for the history student is a picture of a post-industrial landscape typically found beside polluted rivers across America where time has passed it by. The industrial ruins-looking build-up is a common sight from New England to North Bend. What we need to know is this particular mess can be considered the […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Andrew Carnegie, baby boomer, Baby Boomer blogger, boomer blogger, boomerpdx, Carnegie mellon, enthusiast, fitness, historical, history, history fan, history fans, history professional, history student, history writing, hobbyist, local history, Love, Oregon City, Oregon History, powerful, pre-oregon, rich, state and local history, state history, story, willamette fall, writer, writers, writing

DAVIDPDX @ boomerpdx, A REGAL OREGON BLOG REVIEW

April 12, 2026 by David Gillaspie

When I look for an Oregon blog I google ‘oregon blogs.’ Does that sound right to you? Good, it should. What isn’t right is the first listing, an unfriendly welcome to sign in and ‘keep up with the topics, feeds, and trends that matter to you.’ In a search for ‘oregon blogs’ the topic is […]

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NORTH BEND IN THE OREGON HISTORY CENTER

March 10, 2026 by David Gillaspie

This is North Bend in 1940. Something is missing, though. I-5 is missing, but there’s something else. These baby boomers and their memory, you never know what you’re getting.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, Baby Boomers, blogger, book, boomerpdx, boomers, family, hwy 101, kids, memory, museums, north bend bridge, North Bend Oregon, Oregon, Oregon Coast, oregon historial society, Oregon History, story

THE RIGHT SHIRT PULLS EVERYTHING TOGETHER

June 15, 2025 by David Gillaspie

What is the right shirt for the occasion? As all fashionistas know, it depends on the occasion. You don’t want to go too over the top as much as you don’t want to look like you could care less. Try not to channel your inner-Lady Gaga. This was the right shirt for the No Kings […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: army birthday, beer, dropout, education, enthusiasm, family, father's day, fathers day, GPA, history, joy, Love, low GPA, married, Michael Jordan, millennials, no kings, Oregon History, pater familias, philadelphia, public service, real world, retired teachers, right shirt, seventies guy, sixties guy, story, student loans, teachers, Tigard, US Army, us history, wife, young people

PORTLAND DIRT IS JUST LIKE YOUR DIRTY TOWN

February 4, 2025 by David Gillaspie

To know Portland Oregon you better like dirt. I’m not talking about pioneering farmers, either. It started with the first native canoe stopping on the Willamette. Paddling against the current takes as much energy now as it did then, so if you’re into historical reenactment you’d better be in shape.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: downtown Portland, historical reenactment, kkk portland, Oregon, Oregon History, Portland, Portland dirt, portland history, Portland Oregon, urban excavation

PORTLAND PARK BLOCKS IN DECEMBER WITH DOG

December 12, 2024 by David Gillaspie

The Portland Park Blocks, the south side, deserves a good look this time of year. Call it a learning moment, my dog did. Who’s a good girl. We started at Portland State University to see what the youths were up to.

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: art, education, education vibe, educational, good girl, history, learning, learning moment, my dog, OHS, Oregon, Oregon History, PAM, park blocks, Portland, Portland Art Museum, Portland Oregon, Portland Park Blocks, Portland stater university, student union, vibe

TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON

December 4, 2024 by David Gillaspie

Traditions and customs reek of history and ceremony. Just the way I like it. The more the merrier is fitting for both. But, like George Harrison said, “All things must pass.”

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Bybee howell house, customs, Fort Vancouver, historical, history, learning, museum, museum crew, new, old, old and new, Oregon, Oregon History, review, traditions, traditions and customs, travel, trifle

LIVING HISTORY? IT WORKS FOR ME

March 28, 2024 by David Gillaspie

Living history is what you see when people put on costumes and churn butter. At least that’s what comes to mind for most people. It’s a farm, a museum, a town. History is one thing; living it another. Which one is right for you? I have the right answer:

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: artifacts, experience, family, fish packing, hand guns, historical resume, history, history museum, life, living, living history, machine guns, museum artifacts, museum collections, museum objects, museum robbery, northwest, oregon historical society, Oregon History, Oregon History Museum, Oregonian, robbery, saw mill

HISTORY WORK NEVER ENDS FOR THE CURIOUS

December 8, 2023 by David Gillaspie

Doing history work where you live is the only way to get to your happy place. Or at least you’ll know where you are. The Oregon Historical Society’s downtown Portland history museum is just the place. But first ask yourself, “Am I curious?” If you read boomerpdx regularly, you pass the curious test. Take this […]

Filed Under: What's Up Tagged With: Baby Boomer blogger, blogger, boomerpdx, curious, David Gillaspie, education, happy place, historiography, history, history museum, history work, history workers, millennials, museum, Oregon, oregon historical center, Oregon History, Portland, PORTLAND BABY BOOMER, portland monthly, Portland Oregon, reimagine portland, The Oregon Historical Society, Thomas Vaughan, travel, writer, writers, writing