Travel Oracles 50 States: Oregon
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Oregon
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Joined: In 1846, the border between U.S. and British territory was formally established at the 49th parallel – the part of the territory that was given to Britain would ultimately become part of Canada. Oregon was officially admitted to the union as the 33rd state on February 14th, 1859
Original Indigenous Peoples: Burns Paiute Tribe. Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
First Settlers: The first Europeans to see the Oregon coast were Spanish sailors in the mid-16th century, who produced rough maps describing the area. But later to settle permanently in Oregon Country were missionaries fro New England in the 1830s
History moment: Following exploration by the Spanish and French, in the 17th and 18th centuries, Oregon was mapped by the Lewis and Clark expedition in their search for the Northwest Passage. Starting in the 1830s, many groups of pioneers traveled to the state on the famous Oregon Trail, and the U.S. began joint settlement of the area with the United Kingdom. In 1846, the border between U.S. and British territory was formally established at the 49th parallel – the part of the territory that was given to Britain would ultimately become part of Canada. Oregon was officially admitted to the union as a state on February 14th, 1859.
Known for: Natural Beauty, the famous Oregon Trail, and Portland, Oregon’s largest city, is considered one of the top cities in the nation in terms of quality of life
Places: Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend, Cannon Beach
Movie setting: Stand by me, Goonies, Wild, and the hilarious show Portlandia
Musicians from: Lee Morse, Portland the man, Elliot Smith, The Decemberists
Surprising facts: Oregon is one of the nation’s top producers of wine, boasting over 300 wineries. Due to the high demand for beaver hats and coats and unregulated trapping during the early settlement years, beavers were nearly eliminated by the mid-19th century. Since then, proper management has allowed semi-aquatic mammals to flourish once again. Known as the “Beaver State,” Oregon features a picture of a beaver on the back of its state flag.
Rugged beauty, locavore cuisine, and indie spirit are just some of Oregon’s charms. The Pacific Northwest darling is home to hip Portland, whose happening foodie and arts scenes are anchored by an eco-friendly lifestyle. Smaller cities draw you in, too: you can sample microbrews in Bend, see top-notch theater in Ashland, and explore maritime history in Astoria. Miles of bike paths, hikes up Mt. Hood, and rafting in the Columbia River Gorge thrill outdoor enthusiasts. For pure relaxation, taste award-winning Willamette Valley wines and walk windswept Pacific beaches. Let’s travel to Oregon
My Experience: I have been to Portland many times and the slogan ‘keep Portland weird’ lives up to its promise. It’s a great place to take a trip, enjoy the great food scene and explore the coast
Portland: What distinguishes Portland, Oregon, from the rest of America's cityscapes? Or from the rest of the world's urban destinations for that matter? In a Northwest nutshell: everything. For some, it's the wealth of cultural offerings and never-ending culinary choices; for others, it's Portland's proximity to the ocean and mountains, or simply the beauty of having all these attributes in one place.
Nature: The rugged Oregon coast is a stunner - If you aren’t from the Pacific Northwest, Oregon’s spectacular coastline might still be a secret: it's less visited and talked about than California's coast, but certainly no less beautiful.There are five national park sites in Oregon, including Including Crater Lake, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument, Lewis & Clark National Historical Park and the McLoughlin House, which is part of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Oregon is currently ranked #22 out of 50 in 2021 and #27 in 2019.