JACKSONVILLE, OR—After a three-year hiatus, 1932 Living History is returning to Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House Museum. The country is deep into the Great Depression and Ben and Carrie Beekman, the children of Jacksonville’s wealthiest and most prominent pioneer family, are closing up their 1870s family home. Guests become part of a 1-hour living history “play” as they interact with Carrie, Ben, family members, and friends who are commenting on 1932 Jacksonville and life in the late 1800s.
The Cornelius C. Beekman House Museum, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, is still completely furnished with family artifacts. Historic Jacksonville, Inc. invites guests to time travel at 10:30am, 11:30am, 1pm or 2pm on February 11, March 11, April 8 or May 13. Admission is $10 and tour groups are capped at 10 people. Tickets can be purchased at https://historicjacksonville.org/1932-living-history/. All proceeds help preserve Jacksonville’s historic buildings and bring them to life through programs, events, and activities.
Upon entering the house, guests step back in time to 1932. The country is deep into the Great Depression. Franklin Roosevelt is running for President. Groucho Marx is on the radio. In Jacksonville, locals are digging up backyards and streets looking for any gold left from the town’s original gold rush. Hobos go house to house looking for hand outs. Julia Beekman has passed away, and daughter Carrie is moving to Portland where her brother Ben has lived for the past 40 years.
Family patriarch Cornelius Beekman was banker, investor, entrepreneur, and public servant. The Oregonian named him as one of the 100 most influential people in Oregon during the 100 years following statehood. In Historic Jacksonville’s 1932 Living History “play,” historical interpreters portray the adult Beekman children, Carrie and Ben, as they go through years of accumulated belongings and the memories they bring back. Their former housekeeper joins them for the day. Their mother’s youngest sister drops in for a visit.
Guests have raved about the tours calling them “the finest living history I have ever witnessed.” A Chief of Interpretation at a U.S. National Park said that none of their living history presentations “were as lively and professional as the Beekman House presentation.”
For additional information about the Beekman House 1932 Living History tours and other Historic Jacksonville, Inc. activities, visit HJI’s website at www.historicjacksonville.org, or contact 541-245-3650 or info@historicjacksonville.org.