21st Century Jacksonville may be known for its music, art, food, and wine scene, but its historic buildings remain the core of the Jacksonville experience. The town’s National Historic Landmark District preserves Jacksonville’s unique role as Oregon’s first gold mining mecca and the 19th Century commercial and governmental hub of Southern Oregon, but by themselves, the structures may be viewed as just old buildings with dates on them.
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2014 to bring these historic landmarks to life through programs and activities that share their history and the stories of the people who occupied them. We showcase them through “Pioneer History in Story & Song,” “Jacksonville Haunted History” walking tours, “Pioneer Profiles” columns in the Jacksonville Review, weekly Facebook “Jacksonville History Trivia,” “History Mystery” contests, and more. We open the 1873 Cornelius C. Beekman House with Victorian, living history, and 19th Century lifestyle tours of the museum home of the town’s wealthiest and most prominent pioneer family. We staff the 1863 Beekman Bank Museum during peak tourist seasons, providing access to the oldest financial institution in the Pacific Northwest.
All the funds we raise go towards preserving and maintaining these buildings and bringing them to life. But bringing history to life and bringing life to history takes people. As an all-volunteer organization, we would love to have you join us as docent, historic interpreter, tour guide, greeter, researcher, script writer, promoter, tech guru, logistics coordinator, etc. Contact 541-245-3650 or info@historicjacksonville.org for more information!