Following the discovery of gold in the winter of 1851-2, Jacksonville, Oregon,
became a melting pot of races, classes, and cultures as ambitious individuals
pursued the promise of riches. The offer of free land brought settlers
seeking opportunity. The influx of miners and settlers attracted merchants
with goods to sell and opportunists of all kinds.
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. brings the history of Jacksonville and
Southern Oregon to life through the stories of the people, places, and things
that have contributed to who we are today.
Looking to the past and the future!
January seems an appropriate name for the first month of the year since it’s named after Janus, the Roman god of transitions and protector of gates and doorways. Janus has two faces, one looking into the past, the other into the future, depicting a time of both reflection and new beginnings.
For Historic Jacksonville, Inc., 2025 was marked by both endings and beginnings: the ending of some of our popular tour offerings and the introduction of new tour themes; the loss of some wonderful long-time docents and enthusiastic new volunteers joining us; fewer tour times but more tour dates; more public talks, more social media followers, more access to original historical sources, and more!
We’re learning and growing, and in 2026 we’ll be sharing more opportunities for you to learn about the people and the stories that have made Jacksonville such a special place as we continue our mission to bring history to life!
An old song notes “What a difference a day makes!”
Well, think about what a difference 125 years can make!
Daily Life Then and Now
Join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. on Saturday, February 21, for “Daily Life Then and Now” tours—a 1900 vs. 2025 comparison of a family’s daily lifestyle. Visit the difference in communication, fashion, etiquette, entertainment, chores, household “amenities,” and much more – things we take for granted like electricity, running water, and…bathrooms!
Tours will begin every 20 to 30 minutes between 12n and 3pm on Saturday February 22, at the 1870s C.C. Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, Oregon. Tour admission is $8 (cash or check at the door). All proceeds go towards maintenance of Jacksonville’s historic buildings and the programs and events that bring them to life and make them relevant for people today.
https://historicjacksonville.org/then-and-now/
And then there’s
Jacksonville’s New Museum…
Opening July 2026!
Jacksonville’s 1881 “Old City Hall” building is becoming
the ADA accessible hub for a “Museum without Walls”
that incorporates the town’s entire
National Historic Landmark District
(the first one on the West Coast)!
And you can make it happen!
Our Old City Hall History Center base will give you an interactive overview of Jacksonville history and share the many ways that you can explore it through walking tours, Haunted History, trolley rides, photo exhibits, programs and presentations, and more!
And we’re adding a new GPS self-guided walking or driving tour that can be downloaded onto your smart phone or tablet. It will let you choose from existing tours, create your own tour based on your interests or available time, or provide you with information about the history of where you are. Every stop includes a photo of your location and its name, a short audio narration of its history with a photo loop of historic images, a text version of the audio, and an opportunity to explore further!
Grants and partnerships with the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Boosters Foundation, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, foundations and individuals are underwriting the initial design and infrastructure portion of the project. We would welcome your participation as well!
Please consider a donation to Historic Jacksonville, Inc. to help underwrite the project, capital construction, exhibits, and/or audio tours that will share our town’s storied history. It’s as easy as a click on our Donate button!
In the meantime, stay tuned for more museum information!
Then join our
when local dogs explore and share historic Jacksonville.
Here’s Mozzie, one of our tour guides.
He’s a 3-year-old Yellow Labrador who loves belly rubs
and excursions through Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery.
He can also be seen walking the streets of our historic residential neighborhoods. He enjoys meeting other pups and can be shy when greeting new people (but he’s trying!), so be sure to stop and say hello.
Historic Jacksonville’s Walkabout Wednesday Club is a tribute to Storm Large, Jacksonville’s Great Dane “history ambassador.” Every Wednesday for over 7 years, Storm shared our town’s historic sites along with their stories. Club members continue her legacy.
We always welcome new club members, so if you are willing to pose and photograph your dog in front of one of Jacksonville’s many historic sites and share that image with the public, please let us know!
Contact info@historicjacksonville.org and we’ll give you some photography “tips.”
In the meantime, click here to check out the exploits of our Walkabout Wednesday Club, members.
And don’t forget there are always lots of virtual ways to
Explore Historic Jacksonville!
Want an overview? Watch our 30 minute video.
Want a quick sample? Check out our daily Facebook and Instagram posts.
Want to dig deeper? Visit one of the 50 sites on our Walk through History blog.
Enjoy a visit to the historic C.C. Beekman House when
Mrs. Julia Beekman “Invites You to Call”
for a tour of her 1873 home.
Or visit many of Jacksonville’s original residences through our 45 minute
“Step Back in Time” Historic Home video!
Tour Jacksonville’s pioneer cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest that has remained in continuous use through our new 45 minute
Pioneer Cemetery tour.
View Jacksonville through the eyes of local pets as they sniff out the
history and stories of local sites each week in our
Walkabout Wednesday series.
Join us for our on-going “Thirsty Thursday” saloon series featuring early Jacksonville stories of beer, wine, whiskey, saloons, and “entrepreneurs”!
So many ways to see the places and learn about the people who transformed a gold rush town into the 19th Century commercial, governmental, and social hub of Southern Oregon! Enjoy the treasure trove of Jacksonville History on this website plus daily history trivia on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Find out how interesting and fun history can be!
Jacksonville 1883 (lithograph)
When Oregon was admitted to the Union in 1859, Jacksonville was the largest inland trade center in the new state, and Jacksonville and its residents played a dominant role in early Oregon history and statehood. But when the railroad by-passed Jacksonville in the 1880s, the town slowly sank into oblivion. However, that oblivion also proved to be the town’s salvation, preserving the historic buildings, homes, and character that you see today—Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District. Today, these landmarks live again through the efforts of the City of Jacksonville, volunteers, and private owners so that you can again experience Jacksonville in its heyday.