The American Freedom Train, an integral part of America’s 200th birthday party, circled the country in 1976 touching all lower forty-eight states. The workhorse steam engine was the Daylight 4449, pulling the long train filled with Americana, going everywhere but New England. On the older tracks with smaller clearances found there, a slightly smaller steam engine was used. Which one? …
The Portland Winter Light Festival runs from February 3rd through 6th and will turn the city into a tapestry of light, color, artistry, and performance. The exterior of the Oregon Rail Heritage Center will be illuminated by artist Matthew ‘Roz’ Rosvold as part of the Portland’s colorful transformation during the festival. The area around OMSI — including the ORHC — will include over two dozen different lighted installations. This family-friendly event is a free, all ages, outdoor, community celebration–simply show up and enjoy the fun!
Come view the outside of our lighted building and then explore inside the museum during the festival! The ORHC will be open extended hours this week to match the Winter Light Festival schedule:
Wednesday, 5 to 10 pm
Thursday, 1 to 10 pm
Friday, 1 to 11 pm
Saturday 1 to 11 pm
A new exhibit has opened at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. This exhibit chronicles the contributions of the Greek immigrant community to the development of the railroads in the Pacific Northwest. The first job for many Greek immigrants who came west was working on the railroad. While for some it remained their permanent job, others eventually moved into town and …
The Oregon Historical Society’s wonderful exhibit All Aboard! Railroading and Portland’s Black Community is now appearing at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. This remarkable exhibit shows through pictures and stories how the Black Community in Portland was built around the railroads. As late as 1941, the railroads provided 98.6% of all local black jobs. The …