Preservation Month Fair at State Capitol, May 11

May is National Historic Preservation Month and for Oregon communities throughout the state it’s an opportunity to reflect on significant places, artifacts, and collections that help tell the stories of our past as well as to recognize contributions that individuals and organizations preserve those stories and places. Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with 28 heritage organizations displaying historic military vehicles, artifacts, and engaging exhibits that tell Oregon’s story and highlight the contributions of individuals and organizations to local preservation projects. On Thursday, May 11th, Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, will host the 9th Annual Preservation Month Fair at the State Capitol State Park in Salem. Community organizations and several state agencies will highlight the history of their institutions and their work to preserve important sites related to historic events, persons, and places. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol on the north side of Court Street, opposite the Capitol building. It is free and open to the public. Participating exhibitors include the Willamette Heritage Center; Salem Landmarks Commission; Historic Deepwood Estate; Bush House Museum; Salem Pioneer Cemetery; Oregon State Museum of Mental Health; Lord and Schryver Conservancy; Friends of Timberline Lodge; Oregon Black Pioneers; Hoover Minthorn House Museum; Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gordon House; Daughters of the American Revolution, Newell Pioneer Village and Caples House Museum; Santiam Heritage Foundation; Willamette University Archives; Restore Oregon; University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History; Oregon Military Museum; Oregon State Parks with friends groups from Silver Falls and Champoeg State Parks and the Oregon Historic Trails Advisory Commission; Oregon Cultural Trust; Oregon Department of Forestry; Oregon Department of Transportation; Oregon State Capitol Foundation; Oregon State Archives, and the Oregon State Library. On display at the event are an operating World War II M3A1 Stuart Light Tank and a Korean War Jeep. A free tour of the Capitol Grounds will begin at 11:30 a.m. from the Capitol steps, and a free tour of the Capitol Building Tower will begin at the information kiosk in the Capitol Building at 12:00.