Editor’s Note: As always, I am fully transparent. I am the President of the Hillsboro Historical Society, a longtime Washington County historian, and a supporter of all things History here. This story will bring the reader up to speed on what is happening to the Washington County Museum, the organization’s plight, and some plans and specific actions taking place. I have been deeply involved with much of this for some time.
Over 100,000 items are stored inside the 5 Oaks Museum (Washington County Museum) on the Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus in Bethany, Oregon. The items were initially collected by the Tozier family of Hillsboro, Oregon, in the early 1900s, and tens of thousands more sit behind these walls where they have been safeguarded for decades by the Washington County Historical Society (5 Oaks Museum). Thousands of Pioneer families and others have gifted items, documents, photos, maps, and more over time. Funded partly by Washington County via lottery funds and other support, the organization is now at a crossroads where it can no longer continue its mission and keep the museum open. The Oregonian ran an in-depth article on the plight of the organization yesterday.
The Video linked here allows you to watch the 2-18-25 Work Session of the Washington County Commissioners and its Staff, during which the museum’s plight was discussed. The County did not make any decisions, but a 60-day period is now underway in which the massive collection at the museum is being analyzed, the costs to close the museum and deaccession of the items are being reviewed, and other possible solutions are being looked at for keeping the museum and collection open and intact. In the session, the idea of keeping the 5 Oaks Museum and the Washington County Historical Society alive by increasing funding was discussed- and the direction is not to do that as funds are shrinking county-wide.
Here are two slides that were presented that capture the state of affairs:
So, as you can see, the County funds about $173,000 of a $600,000 annual budget that keeps the 5 Oaks Museum going as they have existed.
Later in the meeting, after making it clear that the County no longer intends to fund the organization, PCC was discussed as a possible option for taking over the collection and control of the building. The county still has a 54-year lease available at $1 per year. Beyond that, the County is looking at options to keep the collection safe, secure, climate-controlled, and watched over by a minimal staff.
As a Washington County History Roundtable member, I have attended many meetings over the past 10 years. The ad hoc group of Countywide historians and organizations includes many of the best historical minds. Hundreds of years of organizational experience exist within the group, including former museum directors, academic and University Staff, and others. This group has been in contact with the 5 Oaks Board and staff for many years. Only in the last two months were we all notified that the group had hit a funding wall, lost sponsors and grants, and were at the end if something drastic did not happen. Our members received an email stating that the organization had closed the museum and would remain closed until funding could be found. Initially, no options to modify its staffing or budget were offered- a $600,000 annual budget and a Co-Director model were required.
Hearing this news, the County administrators interacted with the History Roundtable, myself, the 5 Oaks Board, and others, and called for the work session after significant lobbying. Early pressures to “keep the museum open” were put upon commissioners and staff by many of us and were heard and acknowledged. Then, before the work session, the 5 Oaks Board submitted a proposal outlining four options to keep things moving. That document was obtained from the County Staff by the Herald late last week and shared amongst the Roundtable members. It is linked here below.
5 Oaks Museum Board makes 4 proposals
The lowest-cost option is the Washington County Museum Closure Funding Proposal. This proposal would cost Washington County $13,015 per month and would include limited staff, safety for the collection, and an inventory of the 100,000 items. The disposition of the items would then be decided upon, and it could be a long process fraught with policies that museums traditionally follow when deaccessioning collections.
The Washington County History Roundtable is actively involved in this process and has taken a position via a Resolution we sent to Washington County. Here is an excerpt:
Whereas The Agreement obligates the Museum to
1. Preserve and interpret the cultural heritage of Washington County
2. Maintain and exhibit museum collections
3. Provide historical and cultural education programs
4. Maintain and develop research facilities
5. Maintain County historical archives; and,
Whereas, The Roundtable believes that the County’s funding of the Museum that is guaranteed under the
terms of the 1987 Agreement are insufficient to safeguard the collection and organize exhibitions and educational programs that the County and the Museum know the County’s residents deserve in order to understand the history of this place and thus to guide the evolution of this place;…The Roundtable requests that Washington County provide emergency supplemental funding of no
less than $10,000 per month through the end of FY2024-25 so that the Board and Staff of Five Oaks
Museum can continue to safeguard the County’s extensive collection of art, archives, and artifacts until the
County and the Museum amend or terminate the 1987 Agreement that governs this fruitful public/private
partnership that provides inestimable benefits to the People of Washington County.Full Resolution is linked here:
WaCo History Roundtable resolution to Wash County regarding Five Oaks Museum Closure
Our body resolves that the historical collection has incalculable value and must be protected and kept safe and secure at all costs. The Museum operation is a huge priority, too. But in a drastic situation – an emergency situation – the priority is the history collection and keeping it together as other options are explored.
The Oregon Museums Association submitted a letter to the County as well:
The economic value of supporting Oregon’s heritage institutions cannot be overstated.
The Report of Economic Impacts and Value of Oregon’s Heritage Organizations and
Events found that, in 2019, heritage organizations supported $196.3 million in total
economic activity. Heritage tourism acts as an important contributor for local
economic development by supporting jobs in Oregon’s leisure and hospitality sector
and shaping the social and cultural landscape of communities around Oregon. In
2019, the nearly 3 million heritage visitors spent $137 million, with a higher share of
the visits being overnight. The Portland region led in visitor spending. During the
2020-2021 closures, Five Oaks Museum reached a national audience and has directly
contributed to the region’s tourism landscape since.Kathryn Sinor
OMA Board Member & Advocacy Committee Member
So what do we do next?
Since the Oregonian article broke yesterday, the airwaves and social media have come alive with the news of the closure and the specter of losing all of the History of a County as important as Washington County. How could the County of first Pioneer era origin, named by Joe Meek for his home in Virginia, turn back on its history? What about the native First Nation people and the history contained inside the collection? Are the Kalapuyan and Atfalati people and their stories going to still exist in the place they called home for 15,000 years or more before the white man came?
The Oregonian article caused a panic as it paints a dire picture and clarifies the 5 Oaks Museum’s plight. But many others, including me, believe the county can work with us and that a win-win can be found. Given the current situation, we believe the County is in a position where funding is tight and change is needed. However, we think options exist, and the best historical minds and community leaders in the state will be brought together to find a win-win if that is humanly possible. We think it is.
One option we have uncovered, thanks to Professor David Lewis of Oregon State and the Grand Ronde Tribe, is a micro levy that could be a long-term solution. Multnomah County passed a local option levy of 5 cents per $1000 in tax value. That 2021 measure https://multco.us/info/ballot-measure-26-221-multnomah-county?fbclid=IwY2xjawIsUilleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHYVftax3ZxL0OL81dMcadyQcDpXiZLbSfozLG7L0ZekmDQ0reOZiU-sGLQ_aem_9QuVxvOGm5ri0CohWA4PuQ
What did the levy do?
Five year levy: Oregon Historical Society Library, Museum, educational programs.
Question: Shall County renew 5-year history museum, library, educational programs levy; maintain $.05 per $1,000 assessed value, oversight, beginning 2021? This measure renews current local option taxes.
Summary: In 2016 voters approved a five-year local option levy of $.05 per $1,000 assessed property value to support the Oregon Historical Society (OHS). Renewal of this levy will continue support to the OHS’s museum, library, educational programs, and fund the following without increasing taxes:
- Educational programs;
- Free admission to school groups and Multnomah County residents;
- Preservation of important Oregon treasures and artifacts;
- Support four County historical societies: Fairview-Rockwood-Wilkes Historical Society, Gresham Historical Society, Troutdale Historical Society, and Crown Point Country Historical Society;
- OHS will continue to build on its efforts to provide exhibits and services that reflect the diverse histories of our region, and engage all parts of our county.
- Levy continues rate of $.05 per $1,000 assessed property value, and replaces the 2016 levy. A home assessed at $200,000 pays $10 a year.
An independent citizen oversight committee will review expenditures to verify that funds are used as approved by voters. Annual audits will be conducted and made public.
The levy will produce an estimated $3.35 million for fiscal year 2021-2022; $3.41 million for fiscal year 2022-2023; $3.57 million for fiscal year 2023-2024; $3.72 million for fiscal year 2024-2025; and $3.87 million for fiscal year 2025-2026.
The levy was passed with overwhelming support because it is extremely low cost, generates a lot of bang for the buck for history, library, and education lovers, and features a citizen-oversite committee. We think the people of Washington County will support this sort of effort, but it will take a year or two to get done.
See pis from the Washington County Museum I have shot over the years!
In closing- Other action items:
- Join the new Facebook Group, which will gather supporters of the Museum, the history collection, and a positive and equitable outcome for the future. Click Here- https://www.facebook.com/groups/washingtoncountymuseumandcollection
- Watch for updates and meeting announcements here at the Herald.
- CONTACT YOUR COMMISSIONERS OR ALL OF THEM: Tell them what you think! https://forms.co.washington.or.us/form/constituent-inquiry
- MONEY – If anyone reading this could be a sponsor or benefactor for this effort, now is the time to speak up. A major sponsor could gain incredible community benefits by stepping in now and letting your good fortunes be the catalyst for something exceptional! Contact me at dirkknudsen@gmail.com or 503-799-8383 if you want to discuss this option, or contact the museum or county!
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The Hillsboro Herald is a News source- an online digital newspaper and media source. Most of our stories are one-of-a-kind, unique, hyper-local, investigative, and uncovered by no other news media. We have subscribers and allow advertisers to work with us and meet our readers. We are formally organized as an Oregon LLC with the express purpose of gathering and diseminating news to the public and the Citizens of the Communities we serve. The City of Hillsboro leadership denies the Hillsboro Herald access to Executive Sessions, which has been held almost every meeting lately. There is no record of what happens in those meetings, and media and journalists are allowed. The Herald has been denied access because their city attorneys stated that this is a blog site, not a news media source. This makes it convenient for them to hide what is being done and said from the Herald. We tell you, our readers, this to make you ponder their decision and why they have made it. Several attorneys from the State and National Levels offer to take this matter to court. We want to bring you the news- and the best of the news. We do not force our readers to pay for the news like The Oregonian, Oregon-Live, The Business Journal, and others will. We do ask for your support and patronage as a subscriber or supporter. You can do that right here- https://www.patreon.com/join/HillsboroHerald
