Hidden Gems: A Mid-Valley Heritage Invitational Extravaganza!

www.missionmill.org.

(Salem, Oregon) - Hidden Gems: A Mid-Valley Heritage Invitational Extravaganza! gives 19 Mid-Valley heritage, cultural and history museums and organizations the opportunity to bring their most unique, interesting and/or important treasures together in one show!

Throughout the exhibition’s run, visitors can take a walk through history as they view a wide array of local, regional and nationally important objects. Hidden Gems encourages the preservation and appreciation of our local organizations that do so much every day to foster understanding and enjoyment of our community’s heritage.

“We are thrilled to have these wonderful heritage and cultural organizations bring their objects for this one-of-a-kind show. We have been looking for new ways to help promote the “Hidden Gems” that our community has to offer and this exhibition is one step in that direction. I for one hope that we are able to make this collaborative exhibition into an annual event, focusing on different themes each year. For example, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of Oregon women gaining the right to vote, and I would love to work with these organizations to facilitate a celebratory exhibition of women in the Mid-Valley.”

To date, the following organizations from Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties will be participating:

Antique Powerland Museum Association, Aurora Colony Historical Society, Bush House Museum, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Forest History Center, Frank Lloyd Wright Gordon House, Historic Deepwood Estate, Hoover-Minthorn House, Independence Heritage Museum, Jensen Arctic Museum, Keizer Heritage Museum, Linfield Anthropology Museum, Oregon Northwest Black Pioneers, Oregon State Hospital Museum, Settlemier House, Silverton Country Historical Museum, St. Paul Mission Historical Society, Willamette University Archives, and Yamhill County Historical Society.

Some of the featured items include a medical case from an 1899 graduate of Willamette University from the Willamette University Archives; an early fire radio from the Forest History Center; a jail ball and chain from the Yamhill County Historical Society; a pair of child's boots worn by Herbert Hoover from the Hoover-Minthorn house, and a vintage wedding cake topper from Historic Deepwood Estate.

Opens January 2011 at The Willamette Heritage Center

The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill - www.missionmill.org.