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Monday 10am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 5pm Wednesday 10am - 5pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Old Aurora Colony Museum

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United States
Aurora, OR
Old Aurora Colony Museum

Discover the story of the Aurora Colony, a promised "Eden" at the end of the Oregon Trail.

The Aurora Colony Museum offers changing exhibits exploring the history and legacy of the Aurora Colony, Oregon's first communal society (1856-1883). Self-guided tours offer peeks into historic Colony buildings including: the Colony's communal Ox Barn (1862); Steinbach Cabin (1876); Kraus House (1874); Wash House (1877); and replica Tie Shed. Our Mission: The Aurora Colony Museum brings the past t

o life through the history, crafts, and culture of the Aurora Colony and its role in Oregon’s early immigration story. .

05/31/2026

Tickets are now available online for our family-favorite public Farm Days!

Tuesday, June 16th
Saturday, June 27th
Tuesday, July 14th
Saturday, July 25th

Visit a historic 1870s farm and experience hands-on living history at the Aurora Colony's Stauffer-Will Farm.

Spend the morning learning historic skills as you bake bread, saw wood with antique tools, dip candles, and create your own quilt-inspired craft to take home. It's a fun and memorable experience for families, history lovers, and anyone young at heart looking for an engaging day outdoors.

🕘 Program begins at 10 AM
🎟️ Members: $13 | Non-Members: $16
For children and adults ages 8 and up

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.auroracolony.org/events

This event is a community favorite and often fills quickly, so be sure to reserve your spot early!

The farm grounds will remain open until 2:00 PM, so bring a picnic and enjoy a relaxing afternoon while exploring this unique historic setting.

05/29/2026

We’re kicking off our Aurora After Hours event series with a returning favorite — back by popular demand!

✨🎩✨ Prepare to be amazed!

Join us for an evening of illusion, wonder, and old-world enchantment with the marvelous Historical Conjurer, Professor D. R. Schreiber! This one-of-a-kind historical magic show features sleight-of-hand, mystery, and impossible feats inspired by the performances that captivated 19th century audiences. Bridging the past and the peculiar, this unforgettable evening returns to Aurora After Hours by popular demand!

📅 Thursday, June 18th
📍 Location: Aurora Colony Museum Courtyard
🚪 Doors Open: 5:30pm
🎭 Show Begins: 6:30pm

Suggested Donation: $10 (Collected at door).
Members and Children 12 & Under: FREE

RSVP requested:
https://www.auroracolony.org/events/auroraafterhours-thehistoricalconjurer

Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase. Bring a friend and bring your curiosity… we’ll see you there!

05/15/2026

We’re honored to be featured by FOX 12 Oregon as they explored the fascinating history of Aurora — from its beginnings as a small Oregon colony to the thriving community it is today!

Thank you for helping share and preserve these stories for future generations. To view the full coverage click on the link below:

04/16/2026

Step into something new: Colony Craft is now open!

Come explore our newest exhibit and discover how Aurora was built by hand.

Every chair, basket, glove, and garment came from skilled labor. Craft shaped daily life, the economy, and the colony’s identity—turning raw materials into goods for living and trade, and earning a reputation for quality.

Explore the trades behind it:
Textiles & Leather • Woodworking • Basketry • Metalwork

Museum Admission: $8 adults, $6 Seniors/youth, Children 0-5 Free
Museum Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm

03/27/2026

Annual Meeting Speaker Presentation with Alexandria Nanneman
“Loving Labor: Community Crafts as Secular Ceremony”

🏚️ Annual Meeting – Saturday, April 11 at 11 AM

Join us for a special presentation by Alexandria Nanneman, who holds a Master’s degree in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Oregon. She has taught art history at Lane Community College, Pacific University, and PNCA, where she currently teaches courses including History of Design Arts, Exploring Visual Culture, and World Art History.

Her extensive teaching experience also includes the History of Western Art series, as well as courses on Japanese, Chinese, Islamic, and Middle Eastern art, along with the History of Graphic Design and Photography.

Nanneman’s family owns a 350-acre farm in Salem, where they grow fruit and seeds. She works there full-time during the summer, bringing a unique, hands-on perspective to her work and scholarship.

🧵 Exhibit Unveiling – “Colony Craft”
Explore the artistry of the Aurora Colony through basketry, weaving, quilting, furniture, and tinwork.

🍷 Enjoy light snacks and complimentary wine.
Your annual meeting ticket also includes free museum admission on Saturday.

🎟 Tickets: $10 | Members Free

📍 Location:
Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage
14971 1st St NE
Aurora, OR

👉 RSVP at auroracolony.org

03/14/2026

The sun is out and preparations are underway for the Spinning Wheel Showcase. The animals have arrived, crafts are set out, the loom is ready, and spinning wheels are being carefully prepared.

Soon the museum grounds will come to life with the quiet rhythm of wheels turning, yarn forming, and visitors discovering the craft of spinning. Join us this weekend and see these historic tools in action and meet the fiber animals.

Sat. 10am - 5pm
Sun. 12pm - 5pm
Admission: $6 Seniors/youth, $8 adults, Children 0-5 Free
Aurora Colony: 15018 2nd St. NE, Aurora, OR

Aurora Colony Handspinners' Guild - Public Page, Aurora Colony Visitors Association

03/10/2026

The Aurora Colony Handspinners' Guild 42nd Annual Spinning Wheel Showcase is happening this week—and we can’t wait to welcome you!

📅 March 14 | 10 AM–5 PM
📅 March 15 | 12 PM–5 PM

Join us for two days filled with fiber, history, and hands-on fun. Watch antique spinning wheels come to life, meet fiber animals, and experience the fleece-to-shawl process in action. Don’t forget—you can try spinning yourself and take home a weaving craft ($5 donation).

Can’t wait until the weekend? Stop by the museum this week to see our raffle spinning wheel—an Irish flax wheel from the 1800s.

Raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. While you’re here, browse our unique gifts for spinning enthusiasts, including a painting of an Aurora Colony spinner in the Ox Barn by Walt Wirfs, a recently restored European spinning wheel, and drop spindle kits.

Make your plans, invite a friend, and come celebrate with us this week!

Admission:
Adults: $8, Students & Seniors: $6, Children 5 and under: FREE

02/24/2026

The countdown is on for the Aurora Colony Handspinners' Guild 42nd Annual Spinning Wheel Showcase! 🧶✨

Have you marked your calendar for March 14–15? This beloved tradition is more than a showcase—it’s a hands-on journey through the art and history of spinning.

During the two-day event, you’ll:
• See antique spinning wheels in motion
• Meet fiber animals up close
• Follow the fleece-to-shawl process from start to finish
• Try your hand at spinning in our learn-to-spin activity
• Enter to win a raffle spinning wheel
• Enjoy a take-home craft activity ($5 donation)
• Experience the tradition of waulking the shawl

Whether you’re a lifelong fiber enthusiast or simply curious about this timeless craft, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Bring a friend, bring your family, and come celebrate the creativity and community that keep these traditions alive.

Location:
Aurora Colony Museum, 15018 2nd St NE, Aurora OR 07002

Admission:
Adults: $8, Students & Seniors: $6, Children 5 and under: FREE

02/17/2026

A fresh new collection of greeting cards has just arrived in our museum gift shop. 💌

Whether you're marking a special occasion or sending a heartfelt note “just because,” you’ll discover the perfect card to pair with a one-of-a-kind local gift.

Our Museum and gift shop are open 7 days a week. Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12-5pm.

02/06/2026

Do you enjoy working with your hands and taking pride in caring for special places?

This role focuses on keeping historic buildings and landscapes safe, functional, and welcoming through routine maintenance, coordination with contractors, and practical problem-solving. It’s a great fit for someone who enjoys working with their hands and takes pride in their work.

You don’t need to be an expert in everything—just reliable, a problem-solver, and ready to help preserve meaningful places for the community.

Read and download the full job description at www.auroracolony.org/jobs.

To apply please submit a letter of interest and resume to [email protected].

Address

15018 Second Street, NE
Aurora, OR
97002

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 5pm
Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+15036785754

Website

http://www.auroracolony.org/

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