DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, McKee Bridge Historical Society will exhibit the works of Evelyn Byrne Williams at the Jacksonville Library. Evelyn has been a creative force throughout her 99-plus years, in multiple media: oils, pen and ink, appliqué and quilting (including seven “museum” story-telling quilts), and illustrations for her own […]
BY THE TIME the sun crept over the fir-dark hills around Jacksonville, the town was already awake in its own quiet way. A rooster argued with the morning. The creak of a pump handle carried from a yard on California Street. At the livery stable, the blacksmith struck iron and set […]
Do you like classic cars? Then mark your calendar for Saturday, August 2, 2025, when the Southern Oregon Historical Society will be displaying “Cars through History,” between 10am and 3pm, at SOHS Hanley Farm, located at 1053 Hanley Road in Central Point, just outside of Jacksonville.
This is not just another car show! Fifty cars will […]
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR … to enjoy McKee Bridge decked out in greenery and aglow with thousands of twinkling lights. McKee Bridge Historical Society volunteers will decorate the bridge, the Depression-era community kitchen in the picnic grounds, and Star Ranger Station on November 30. The displays […]
06/19/24 JACKSONVILLE, OR—Apparently rumors are flying that the roof at Jacksonville’s historic 1870s Beekman House caved in recently. The roof is just fine! It did NOT cave in! We had some ceiling plaster fall in the maid’s room off the kitchen. The ceiling will be repaired later this summer before we open for fall tours. […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Explore the “Secrets & Mysteries of the Beekman Bank” on Saturday, February 10, and Saturday, March 9, when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. again opens the oldest financial institution in the Pacific Northwest […]
The Southern Oregon Historical Society is celebrating the holidays in style at SOHS Hanley Farm, and you’re invited to join us.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland, December 14-16, 5-9pm—The farm, located just two miles north of Jacksonville at 1053 Hanley Road, becomes a magical place for three nights on December 14, 15, and 16 when over […]
Did you know that the Christmas celebration we know today was “reinvented” during the Victorian Era?
In England, under Oliver Cromwell, the Puritans had rejected all “frippery,” and during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, workers were allowed little time for celebrations of any kind. December 25th had become just another workday.
Clement Moore’s poem, “Twas […]
The McKee Bridge Historical Society is ready for a festive holiday season and will decorate McKee Bridge, the rustic shelter in the picnic grounds, and Star Ranger Station in early December. These sites will be illuminated 24/7 into the New Year. The 5th-Annual Christmas on a Covered Bridge is set for Saturday, December 16, noon […]
Do you enjoy sharing local history with family, friends, and guests? Would you like to learn more about Jacksonville, the town that was the 19th Century commercial, governmental, and social center of Southern Oregon? Are you a new or relatively new resident and would like to know more about your hometown?
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. is looking […]
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. invites you to experience a Victorian Christmas this holiday season at the historic Beekman House Museum. Located at 470 E. California Street, this early 1870s residence, home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest pioneer family, is decorated for a 19th-Century Christmas celebration.
Between 12noon and 3pm every Saturday and Sunday through December 18, costumed docents will […]
McKee Bridge Historical Society (MBHS) will decorate and illuminate McKee Bridge, the rustic Depression-era shelter in the picnic grounds, and Star Ranger Station from December 10 into the New Year. Saturday, December 17, will be a fun day of activities at the bridge from noon to 6pm. Free hot beverages! A bigger, yummier bake sale […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—No clothing style in history is as popular as Victorian Era fashion—although there was no single Victorian style, given that the Era is generally considered to have spanned over 50 years from 1837 to the late 1890s coinciding with the Industrial Revolution, a rising middle class, and the invention of the sewing machine. Join […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—After a “false start” in 2021, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will again be opening the Beekman Bank, the oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest, to the public! We managed one 110-degree August weekend last year before the Bank’s HVAC died. Now with a new HVAC, we’re ready for business!
Scheduled 2022 “banking hours” are 11am to […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Jacksonville’s “Walk through History” tours are back! At 10 a.m. every Saturday from May 28th through September 3rd, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will be offering 1-hour guided walks through Jacksonville’s National Historic Landmark District. Participants visit government and commercial buildings, fraternal lodges, and homes that capture the stories of the people who transformed a gold […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Beginning in August 2021, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will again be opening the oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest to the public! Scheduled “banking hours” are 11am to 3 pm, Saturdays and Sundays, from August 7 through September 5, 2021. The 1863 C.C. Beekman Bank Museum is located at 110 W. California Street in Jacksonville.
The […]
The Jacksonville Boosters Club has a long history of doing hands-on projects and providing financial support for the historic Jacksonville Cemetery. Even with COVID-19 this tradition continues. A small group of Boosters, working independently under the direction of Project Director, Steve Casaleggio, is refinishing the 27 benches that are located throughout the cemetery. They will […]
The Peter Britt Gardens have become the newest Jacksonville landmark to be recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Home to Swiss-American entrepreneur Peter Britt and his family from 1852 to 1959, the designation encompasses 4.7 acres that fronts on First Street between Highway 238 and Pine. It now houses the Britt Festival amphitheater […]
UPDATED ON MARCH 11, 2020–This afternoon, 3/11/2020, the Boosters Club Board of Directors made the difficult decision to postpone the Home and History Tour, previously scheduled for May 2-3. While we deeply appreciate the work done by our volunteers and the generosity of those who offered to open their homes, the escalating concerns associated with […]
Around the year 2000, a new and different shop opened in Jacksonville. This shop, called “Gussied Up,” captivated our feminine fancies while appealing to our love of Jacksonville history.
Hats! Gorgeous hats, custom-made, with feathers and flourish, and 1800’s-looking gowns, all lace and ribbons, bows and bustles.
This writer cannot begin describing the hours Jacksonville ladies spent […]
If you happened to be driving north on Fifth Street in Jacksonville in mid-December, you may have seen a lot of activity on the sidewalk in front of Jacksonville’s City Hall. The sidewalk from C Street to D Street was removed in front of City Hall and a new sidewalk was poured. Fourteen granite blocks […]
UPDATE: This event for 2019 is now SOLD OUT!
History buffs will be in their element when The Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery once again present their annual fundraiser, Meet the Pioneers.
Beginning every fifteen minutes between 4-6:30pm, Friday and Saturday, October 4th and 5th, Jacksonville will be visited by representatives […]
The Family Nurturing Center’s Farm and Food Program and the Southern Oregon Historical Society will co-host Sundays in Spring 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 7 and 14, and May 5 and 19 at historic Hanley Farm, 1053 Hanley Road, Central Point. Stroll the beautiful gardens, orchards, vineyards and producing fields at […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Explore the “Secrets & Mysteries of the Beekman Bank” on January 3, 4, and 5 when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. opens the oldest financial institution in the Pacific Northwest for evening candlelight tours. Established in 1856 as a gold dust office, the current 1863 Beekman Bank building was constructed by Cornelius C. Beekman at 110 […]
SOHS extends a warm thank you to the Oregon Community Foundation, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, Carpenter Foundation, Pacific Power Foundation, Northwest Farm Credit Services, HamCon Builders, the Jackson County Cultural Coalition, and to the sponsors and patrons of the September Roots Music Festival. Your grants and contributions have made it possible to begin repairs on […]
•Christmas Tree Lighting & Community Caroling, Saturday, November 24 at 5:00pm, Merchants Open until 7:00pm
•Christmas Parade, Saturday, December 1 at 10:00am
Regular Weekend Activities
December 1&2, 8&9, 15&16, 22&23
•11:00am-4:00pm: Father Christmas, Carolers, Town Crier,
Cider, Jolly Holly Trolley Stop & Shop Excursions
•11:00am-3:00pm: Beekman House Holiday Tours,
Beekman Bank Tours, St. Joseph’s Rectory […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will celebrate the Victorian Christmas Boxing Day tradition on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 – when all Victorian Christmas tours of Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House Museum will be $2 per person with a canned good donation for ACCESS. ACCESS is a local organization that provides support services to help low-income families, seniors, […]
Make your own Holiday Wreath at Hanley Farm on Saturday, November 24, from 10:00am-3:00pm! You will make your wreath using all natural materials clipped from the trees and bushes that grace the farm. Wreath-making kits that include all you need to make your wreath will be available for $15 for non-SOHS Members, and $10 for […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR – With the pioneer spirits and ghosts that linger in this old gold mining town becoming increasingly restless as we approach November 1, the Day of the Dead, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will be attempting to placate them with two October nights of Jacksonville Haunted History walking tours to share their stories of woe, […]
The evenings of October 14, 20 and 21, 2018 – you’re invited to take a dark walk, guided by lantern, through the fields of Hanley Farm. What is it that keeps all the neighbors astir? Who is this strange lady who haunts the Hanley fields? Along your walk, you’ll encounter talkative townspeople, a mysterious cornfield […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—No clothing style in history is as popular as Victorian Era fashion—although there was no single Victorian style, given that the Era is generally considered to have spanned over 50 years from 1837 to the 1890s coinciding with the Industrial Revolution, a rising middle class, and the invention of the sewing machine. Join Historic […]
Jacksonville residents Todd and Beth Zitzner are no strangers to the housing construction industry, having developed and built the Brookview townhome development near the Bigham Knoll campus.
Recently, the couple turned their attention and talent to acquiring and restoring the historic Owen Keegan House at 455 Hueners Lane. Because the property is located within a few […]
Experience an authentic Civil War encampment and tour the […]
In January 2017, Jacksonville Town Historian Larry Smith suggested that the City Council bring back some form of a museum to the Courthouse by using historic photographs to adorn the two long walls and display cases holding town artifacts.
Nine months later, City Councilor and professional photographer, Ken Gregg, got to work on the project. “As […]
Dennis Ellingson has researched the area beneath Lost Creek Lake and will share his expertise on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at the Medford Library, 205 South Central Avenue, and Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at the Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard, from 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. at both locations.
Not too long ago and not too […]
Jacksonville Cemetery will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, to allow for the removal of the entrance gate and arch. The entire structure will be taken off site for restoration by Bryan Pancheau, Metal Sculpture & Design. It is expected that the project will take approximately four months to complete. A […]
The Home Tour provides our community with a unique opportunity to visit a mixture of historic homes and buildings in Jacksonville. This year we have three historic homes, two gardens and one modern home. Also, but without docents, you can step back in history to tour three historic churches and a historic rectory which have […]
Hanley Farm Heritage Plant Sale—This sale is Hanley Farm’s most anticipated and beloved event and takes place on April 28 and 29, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to take home a piece of history to add to your landscape. Once you’ve located your historical treasure, […]
In 2013, singer/songwriter Christina Lynn Martin and Cowboy Poet and Balladeer Butch Martin co-produced “Romancing the West,” setting out to tell the human story of over 250 years of the people of the American west. This April, the time traveling documentary returns to the Jacksonville Inn on Sunday, April 8th at 6:00pm. The show is […]
Tour will include the Historic Jacksonville Courthouse, where City Hall is currently located. Also on the tour will be three historic homes, two gardens and one modern home. Finish your day at Daisy […]
The 2018 Windows in Time lecture series begins its 10th year of making local history come alive! During this time these popular monthly talks, co-sponsored by the Jackson County Library Services and Southern Oregon Historical Society, have provided a pathway into a world that otherwise might well have been forgotten. “There’s no better way to […]
When Historic Jacksonville, Inc. opens the historic Beekman Bank Museum for “Behind the Counter” tours during Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas celebration over the first three weekends in December, they will also be sharing an early Christmas present with the public. The Southern Oregon Historical Society is returning many of the original books that lined the bank’s […]
Experience a Victorian Christmas this 2017 holiday season at the historic Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, Oregon. This 1873 residence, home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest pioneer family, is decorated for a 19th Century Christmas celebration, and you’re invited to visit. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on December 2, 3, 9, […]
Add a wonderful tradition to your Holiday activities by making your own wreath: Saturday November 25 at Hanley Farm (1053 Hanley Road between Central Point and Medford), from 11am to 3pm, free admission. Wreath materials are $15 for non-members or $10 for SOHS members. Santa will be there with a fun activity for the children, […]
One of Jacksonville’s time-honored traditions is the upcoming Victorian Christmas celebration, running from the parade on December 2nd to December 23rd.
During the festivities, locals and visitors in the historic downtown core are treated to the voices of Christmas and holiday carols, presented by an all-volunteer group of local singers.
This year, caroling group leader Jake Hershey […]
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, the Belles & Beaus Old West/Victorian Society will hold their Third Annual Ball in the US Hotel Ballroom in downtown Jacksonville. This year, the theme is “Dance Through the Decades.” Although attendees are requested to wear period dress from the 1850’s, formal or semi-formal attire is perfectly acceptable!
An hors d’oeuvres […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR – The Victorians created elaborate rituals around the passing of a loved one. Death was considered part of life’s texture, giving it essential meaning. Join Historic Jacksonville at the 1873 Beekman House Museum between 11am and 3 pm on Saturday or Sunday, October 21 and 22, 2017, to explore how Jacksonville’s most prominent […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—The 19th Century Industrial Revolution changed the Victorian World! New inventions impacted virtually every aspect of life—manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, communication, culture, society, and more. Technology transformed society—work, chores, fashion, relationships, leisure, sports, etc. Learn how the Industrial Revolution impacted Jacksonville in the late 1800s when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. (HJI) hosts “Victorian New-Fangled Inventions” from […]
August 17, 2017 – The Southern Oregon Historical Society is pleased to announce the donation of Ashland’s “Amphibious Fire Engine.” The engine acquired its unusual nickname during the 1948 Ashland flood. While preparing to pump out the basement of Weitzel’s department store on the Ashland Plaza, the bridge at the entrance to Lithia Park gave […]