Directory:Oregon

Oregon is a state of the northwest United States in the Pacific Northwest. It was admitted as the 33rd state in 1859. Claimed by the United States after Capt. Robert Gray explored the mouth of the Columbia River in 1792, the area was further explored by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and was soon the site of fur-trading posts. The Oregon Country, a region encompassing all the land from the California border to Alaska and the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains, was held jointly by Great Britain and the United States from 1818 until 1846, when the international boundary was fixed at the 49th parallel. In 1848 the Oregon Territory was created, including all of present-day Washington and Idaho. The state's current boundaries were established in 1853. Salem is the capital and Portland the largest city. Population: 3,640,000.

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Trivia

• Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.

• Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.

• The Columbia River gorge is considered by many to be the best place in the world for windsurfing.

• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.

• Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations.

• Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.

• Pilot Butte, a cinder cone volcano, exists within the city limits of Bend.

• At 329 feet the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.

• At 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.

• The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut. The hazelnut is also known as the filbert.

• Oregon's state birthday is on February 14, Valentine's Day.

• The "Oregon Pioneer" statue that tops the capitol building is a work by Ulric Ellerhusen. This heroic figure represents the spirit of Oregon's early settlers.

• The state park system has 159 yurts located in 19 parks. Yurts are a circular domed tent suitable for camping.

• Navy blue and gold are Oregon's official state colors.

• The Chinook salmon is Oregon's official state fish.

• The Willamette River was discovered in 1792.

• In 1858 the richest gold find in the Cascade Mountains was discovered in the Bohemia Mining District at Sharp's Creek near Cottage Grove.

• Dorris Ranch in Springfield became the first commercial filbert orchard in the state.

• In 1876 the University of Oregon opened in Eugene. Deady Hall was the first building on campus and still exists.

• In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is known to be the largest sea cave in the world.

• The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.

• Darlingtonia Wayside is Oregon's only rare plant sanctuary.

• Oregon's second highest waterfall is Salt Creek Falls in the Cascade Mountain range. It drops 286 feet.

• The H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest is one of the largest long-term ecological research sites in the United States.

• Eugene is rated by "Bicycling Magazine" as one of the top ten cycling communities in the United States.

• There are nine lighthouses standing along the coastline. Five are still being used; the others are designated historic monuments.

• Portland is considered an example of outstanding urban planning. The city is known as The City of Roses.

• High above the city of Portland the International Rose Test Garden features more than 500 varieties of roses cultivated continuously since 1917.

• At 11,239 feet Mount Hood stands as the tallest peak in Oregon. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano.

• Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails.

• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.

• Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.

• The world's largest rosary collection is exhibited at The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. A local resident collected the exhibit.

• The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of carousel horses.

• Fort Clatsop National Memorial contains a replica of Lewis and Clark's 1805-1806 winter outpost.

• The small village of Bickelton is filled with bluebird houses seen on the posts of every house.

• The Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.

• The Ries-Thompson House is the oldest remaining residence in Parkdale. Built circa 1900 the home and area offer a commanding view of Mount Hood.

• Tillamook is home to Oregon's largest cheese factory.

• Florence is known as Oregon's rhododendron capital.

• The Oregon Legislature designated the Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) as the Oregon state flower by resolution in 1899.

• Oregon's capitol building is located in Salem. Earlier capitals include the cities of Oregon City and Corvallis.

• The Columbia River forms most of the northern border between Oregon and Washington. The Snake River forms over half of the eastern boundary with Idaho.

• In 1905 the largest long cabin in the world was built in Portland to honor the Lewis and Clark expedition.

• A treaty between the United States and Spain established the current southern border between Oregon and California. The treaty was signed in 1819.

• The Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States.

• The Tillamook Naval Air Museum is housed in the world's largest wooden clear-span building.

• Haystack Rock off Cannon Beach is 235 feet high and is the third largest coastal monolith in the world.

• The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, built in 1880, is currently used as the site of the final resting place of up to 467,000 cremated individuals.

• The Seaside Aquarium was the first facility in the world to successfully breed harbor seals in captivity.

External links

• Oregon.gov - Official website.

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