The Independence Heritage Museum

This Digital Publication tells the story of a small town, small Museum and small town heroes. Independence Oregon is awash in pioneer spirit since its early beginnings. This book celebrates a collaboration among staff, interns and volunteers who curated decades of memorabilia, artifacts and tales of the Willamette Valley into this interactive edition. We begin by considering what life was like for indigenous Native Americans before the incursion of settlers and settlements. The Tribes relied on spoken word and legend to pass on culture, language and lore. We next share the legends, artifacts and primary documents of western expansion and pioneer days, to the industrial revolution and Independence at war. We include a thorough investigation into evidence of ‘spirits’ who inhabit the museum. We close with an invitation to visit, volunteer, or support our efforts to expand, share and grow.