Junction City Historical Society

09/03/2026

BACK TO SCHOOL - VISIT YOUR LOCAL MUSEUMS!
With school about to start, bring your students by the Mary Pitney House Museum at 4th and Holly this Saturday, 9/5 from 1pm - 4pm for some back to school history!
Our volunteer docents have some great Junction City History to share. You'll find yearbooks dating back to the early 1900's, school books, newspapers and documents full of local history!!
Upstairs you can catch a glimpse of how a classroom may have looked back before internet and smartphones were even an idea.

Stroll a couple blocks down Holly Street, and you'll be at the Historic Dr. Lee House Museum, 655 Holly Street, also open from 1pm - 4pm this Saturday (9/5). This newly re- opened historic museum introduces you to the first doctor of Junction City as well as some amazing artifacts and exhibits!

When we say " Back to School", we are going way back to 1908!

This picture of Washburne School faced north on 6th Avenue between Laurel & Maple and opened September 21, 1908.
Grades 6, 7, and 8 were housed on the lower floor with the high school students on the second floor. It was said that Junction City with its buildings heated by hot water systems were considered one of the best grade and high schools of any town in the valley.

Washburne School was torn down 28 years later in 1936 and replaced by the present old high school building on Maple Street in 1937.
Your Junction City Museums are open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 1pm - 4pm.

Admission is free - Donations are appreciated!

Visit our website: https://www.junctioncityhistory.com/

08/28/2026

Back to school in Junction City circa 1904 compliments of the Lane County History Museum!
Are you curious about Junction City Schools in the early years?

Visit the Mary Pitney House Museum (4th & Holly) where you will find photos of Junction City schools, yearbooks dating back to the early 1900's and tons of school related documents and artifacts. Upstairs, check out the classroom of yesteryear.
As you may know, Mary Pitney was a teacher and one of the first women to graduate from Oregon State University!

Our museums, the Mary Pitney House Museum and the Dr. Norman Lee House Museum (655 Holly) are both open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 1pm -4pm.

Come support the volunteers who keep history alive!!

Visit our website: https://www.junctioncityhistory.com/

It's nearly back to school time... our social feeds will start filling up with bts photos in just a matter of days. So much different for these Junction City kids. What do you want to bet that some of these ninth graders never had a photo taken outside of school until they got older?

Photo GN5571: Circa 1904. Junction City 9th grade public school class. Members pose on school steps with principal, Ed E. Orton.

08/27/2026

YES! We are open!
Stop by the museums today (Thursday, 8/27) and learn about Junction City's history! Our volunteer docents are available and excited to share some amazing stories!
Mary Pitney House Museum (4th & Holly)
Dr. Norman Lee House (655 Holly)
Open TODAY from 1pm -4pm
Admission is Free - Donations are welcome!!

08/26/2026

VISIT YOUR LOCAL MUSEUMS!
If you didn't get a chance to visit the Dr. Lee House Museum (655 Holly St) during the Scandinavian Festival, it will be OPEN Thursday, August 27th, from 1pm - 4pm.
You can take a stroll down Holly Street and visit the Mary Pitney House Museum (4th & Holly) also open from 1pm - 4pm.
Both museums are open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 1pm -4pm. Stop by and take a walk through Junction City history!

08/10/2026

EXCITNG NEWS!
BOTH Junction City Museums will be OPEN all four days of the Junction City Scandinavian Festival August 13th-16th!!

PLEASE STOP BY AND SAY HELLO!!

First, please join us for a brief ceremony marking the GRAND Re-Opening of the Historic Dr. Lee House Museum, 655 Holly Street on
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13th at 11:00 AM!

Dr Norman Lee House Museum Special Extended Festival Hours: August 13th -16th, 11am - 6pm
Come celebrate with us, meet the board members, and be among the first to explore this historic museum after all this time!

The Mary Pitney House Museum (4th & Holly) will be open, August 13th -16th from 1pm - 4-pm.
Please come by and visit our new "Junction City Scandinavian Festival History" display. Beginning with the first Scandinavian Festival in 1961... view albums, newspaper articles, programs and photos! This wonderful display will be available through the end of August!

07/22/2026

Come visit the Mary Pitney House Museum tomorrow, July 23rd from 1pm-4pm.
Volunteer docents will be on hand to show you around and tell some great stories about Junction City's early days.
Tomorrow is the last day the Military Exhibits will be on display
as we look forward to the Scandinavian Festival in August.
Pictured below is Mary Pitney celebrating her 100th birthday in 1991. On display in this photo are some of Mary's pressed flower artwork that are currently on display at the museum.
The Mary Pitney House Museum is open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 1pm-4pm.

07/01/2026

The Mary Pitney House Museum will be closed this Saturday in observance of Independence Day.
Please come visit the museum on Thursday, July 9th from 1pm - 4pm.
Museum Hours: The 1st & 3rd Saturday & the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. (1pm-4pm)

06/18/2026

With Father's Day coming up this weekend, why not bring Dad to the Mary Pitney House Museum this Saturday, June 20th from 1pm-4pm?
We have our WWII and Military Exhibit up for a few more weeks and there is so much more to see! Our volunteer docents will be on hand with stories to share!
The Mary Pitney House Museum is open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and 2nd & 4th Thursday of every month from 1pm - 4pm.

06/02/2026

Stop by The Mary Pitney House Museum this Saturday, June 6th from 1pm-4pm and check out our NEW WWII and Military Exhibits! Volunteer Docents will be on hand to show you around.
If you haven't been to the museum since Memorial Day....things look a little different.
The Mary Pitney House Museum is open the 1st & 3rd Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month from 1pm - 4pm.

05/26/2026

Here are some photos from our Memorial Day event on Monday, May 25th at the Mary Pitney House Museum.
This was such a special day.
We were all moved by featured speaker Jim Starr, Air Force Master Sergeant (Retired) and his personal stories as a POW. As well as the symbolic "POW/MIA table" and "Soldier's Cross". Special thanks to Jim's wife, Jan Starr who assisted in these displays.
Jim spoke of the many casualties of war and those who were not able to return home.
Pause, Remember and Honor.
After he spoke, the audience sang "God Bless America". This group can really belt out a tune! Thank you to all who attended.

Memorial Day kicks off our NEW WWII and military Exhibits that will be on display throughout the summer.
The museum is OPEN the 1st & 3rd Saturday and the 2nd & 4th Thursday, 1pm-4pm.