Things to do in Oregon City
Belle of the Falls
Belle of the Falls departs from the Jon Storm Transient Dock at 1801 Clackamette Dr. Narrated 1-hour tours outline the history of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers and points of interest along the way. Brief stops occur at Willamette Falls and at the Willamette Locks, said to be the first multi-lift navigational locks built in the United States. Boarding takes place 15 minutes prior to departure. Food is available. Call 503-286-7673 for more information.
1801 Clackamette Dr., Oregon City, OR 97045
End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is off I-205 exit 10 at 1726 Washington St. The center is built on George Abernethy's former Donation Land Claim. Abernethy, the first governor of Oregon Country, allowed emigrants to set up camp in a meadow on his land. Known as Abernethy Green, the meadow represented the true end of the Oregon Trail—the site has been officially designated as the Western terminus. Changing exhibits provide information about the trail, Oregon City and historic Clackamas County. Living-history interpreters present talks and demonstrations of activities from pioneer times. "Bound for Oregon," a 34-minute digital presentation, spotlights the experiences of pioneers as they traveled westward, Native Americans and John McLoughlin, the “Father of Oregon.” Call 503-657-9336 for more information.
1726 Washington St., Oregon City, OR 97045
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is downtown at 321 S.W. Salmon St. The hall of fame honors Oregon athletes from professional sports to high school. The museum contains interactive, sports-related exhibits; for instance, visitors can lift a shot put and try on hockey goalie gear. A locker room area displays memorabilia from such sports as hockey, skiing and soccer, and a large timeline traces the history of Oregon sports. Changing exhibits and videos also are featured. Call 503-227-7466 for more information.
321 S.W. Salmon St., Portland, OR 97204
Oregon Zoo
Oregon Zoo is off I-405 exit 1D, then 3 mi. w. to US 26 exit 72. The zoo entrance welcomes visitors to the alpine atmosphere of a mountain village. The plaza overlooks a simulation of the Cascade Mountains, with mountain goats and a snow cave. Exhibits replicate the natural environments of zoo inhabitants. The zoo's Great Northwest exhibit offers visitors a close-up view of black bears, bobcats, cougars and eagles, while the Africa Savanna features a giraffe, hippopotamuses and a black rhino. The Africa Rain Forest includes bats, colobus monkeys and tropical birds. Streams, foliage and thunderstorms in the Bamba du Jon Swamp provide a habitat for crocodiles, fish and reptiles. During the summer, visitors can board a train for a 4-mile ride through wooded hillsides to the International Rose Test Garden and Japanese Garden before catching a later train back to the zoo. Call 503-226-1561 for more information.
4001 S.W. Canyon Rd., Portland, OR 97221
Portland Art Museum
Portland Art Museum is in the downtown cultural district. The museum was founded in 1892 and is the region's oldest visual and media arts center. It is internationally recognized for its permanent collection of 40,000 objects displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries. The distinguished collection includes French painting, English silver, the arts of North America's native peoples, graphic arts and centers devoted to Pacific Northwest artists as well as modern and contemporary art. The museum's Northwest Film Center hosts the annual Portland International Film Festival. Call 503-226-2811 for more information.
1219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland, OR 97205