Oregon City’s History & Heritage
Just 13 miles south of Portland at the historical Willamette Falls fishing and gathering grounds of the Clackamas and Clowwewalla people, Oregon City — the state’s first capital and the official end of the Oregon Trail — is where Oregon’s story began. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of pioneers at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive & Visitor Center, explore historic homes and landmarks on the McLoughlin District Walking Tour, and witness the city’s next chapter taking shape at Tumwata Village at Willamette Falls, a major cultural and riverfront redevelopment project by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde now in progress.
Throughout downtown, you’ll see the layers of history that built this place — from 1800s industry and river-powered mills to vibrant streets and restored buildings that reflect Oregon City’s ongoing spirit of renewal.
Places to Visit & Activies
Atkinson Memorial Congregational House
A historic church building on 6th Street in the McLoughlin Historic District.
Baker Cabin Historical Site
A restored pioneer-era log cabin offering a glimpse into 1850s homestead life in the Willamette Valley.
Carnegie Public Library
A 1913 Carnegie-funded library building, one of many built across the country during the early 20th century.
Charles & Hattie Babcock House
A notable historic residence on Washington Street in Oregon City.
Charles D. Latourette House
A Victorian-era home on High Street in the McLoughlin Historic District.
Charles G. Huntley House
A historic home on Washington Street contributing to the McLoughlin Conservation District.
History Events
End of the Oregon Trail Fall Launch
Master Gardeners at the End of the Oregon Trail
Wagon Crawl: Tales from the End of the Trail
