Lane County History Museum

10/21/2026

Fire trucks have changed just a little in the last 100 or so years! This looks like they are getting ready to be in a parade maybe?

Have you ridden on a fire truck?

Photo GN2297: Circa 1918. Eugene Fire Department fire truck. Unidentified couple poses at the steering wheel.

10/20/2026

Halloween is 11 days away, do you have your goblin cake planned yet? How about pumpkin cookies? Or caramel apples? What is your favorite Halloween treat??

In 1941, Betty Crocker had a popular recipe that featured a marbled chocolate cake with orange frosting. Rose Bud Bakery featured these cakes heavily in their window that year, along with their donuts. One of the signs reads "The witch predicts your Halloween Party will be a big success if you serve Rose Bud Doughnuts."

Popular through the mid century for the holiday, there is a theory that Goblin Cakes (that feature sweet fruits) were inspired by Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market that came out in 1862. Its the story of two sisters and the goblins down by the river who sell one of the sisters fruit. Its a dark fantasy about the dangers of temptation. Which actually is kind of fitting for Halloween don't you think?

Photo KE1781: October 28, 1941. Rose Bud Bakery, 56 West 9th Avenue, Eugene. Exterior. View of display window featuring a goblin cake and various other pastries designed around a Halloween theme.

10/19/2026

Don't forget! This Thursday at 5:30! We are going old school!

Get analog: a crafty scrapbooking event!
nostalgic? unplug and reconnect with your stories and history at this scrapbooking event! crafts make a thoughtful gift for the holidays - come create something hands-on and non-digital with us. no previous experience necessary!

hosted by Creative Q***r Collective and the Lane County History Museum

When: Thursday, October 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm

Where: Lane County History Museum
740 W 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402

note: supplies provided! free but donations welcome!

10/19/2026

If you grew up in Oregon prior to the 90's, you were very familiar with the sight of one of these all over rural areas of Lane County. Wigwam burners were a common way for lumber mills to dispose of wood waste. They are harder to find these days.

The passage of the Clean Air Act in 1963 set standards for air pollution, requiring the revamping of how wood waste was disposed of. Now most wood waste is repurposed for products like particle board, pressboard, wood pellets, and mulch.

Photo DH1778: June 1964. Wigwam burner at an unspecified mill located in the Coast Range in Lane County, Oregon.

10/17/2026

If you need a fun (and FREE!) thing to do on a rainy Saturday with the kids that just happens to be educational too... you can swing by the Lane County History Museum! You can tempt them with a video game.... You can see who can survive the Oregon Trail Game!!

We are open 10 am - 6 pm. You won't even miss the Ducks game!

10/16/2026

Neither of these photos have clear faces, (except the clock in the 1898 courthouse) but they caught my attention. I liked the before and after of them as well. Downtown would look a lot different if we still had the old court house wouldn't it?

Photo GN7418: Construction of 1959 Lane County Courthouse, located behind the 1898 courthouse building on the northeast corner of 8th Avenue and Oak Street. View from Oak Street shows workers perched on top of structural framework placing a steel beam. The 1898 courthouse clock tower in background.

Photo GN7481: Dedication ceremony of 1959 Lane County Courthouse on the northeast corner of 8th Avenue and Oak Street. Looking west. Scene shows audience seated on plaza in front of courthouse building. Arch of Harris Hall in foreground; Oak Street, courthouse parking lot and Tiffany Building in background.

10/16/2026

It's "Did you know... About Oregon?" Friday.
October 16, 1876 - the University of Oregon opened with a student population of 177 men and women and a faculty of five. In 1882 railroad tycoon Henry Villard provided $1000 of books to start a university library. Prior to that the only libraries were those of the private collections of the Lauren and Eutaxian literary societies. (Oregon Daily Emerald story published October 16, 1945).

10/15/2026

Operated by Ray O'Donnell, the garage functioned as a local hub for selling and servicing vehicles Packard Motor Car Company, one of America's premier luxury automobile manufacturers.

I want to know what the inspiration was for the indoor putt putt under a car service station. The first miniature golf was opened in Scotland in 1867 so that ladies could play without using the 'strenuous' full swing of golf.

Photos KE2740b, KE2742, KE2743: O'Donnell Golf Course, located in the parking garage level of Ray O'Donnell's Packard garage. Interior. Ray O'Donnell Packard Service Garage was located at 807 Pearl Street, Eugene (8th Ave. and Pearl St.).

10/14/2026

Did you miss our History Pub on Saturday? Check out our YouTube Channel!

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10/14/2026

How many wheels do you see in this photo? Lots of things going on here. Can you imagine the heat coming off this thing while you were out in the field?

Photo GN7212: Early steam tractor (steam traction engine) at unspecified exhibit. Side view showing boiler, smokestack, drive gears and metal wheels.