Exhibits

Many Exhibits to Explore!

Featured Virtual Exhibit: Swedish Cabins – The Legacy of Henry St​einer and Fogelbo

For most Americans, the log cabin represents the American frontier. The log cabin also tells the story of Swedish immigration and innovation in the United States. In the Pacific Northwest, the story of the Swedish log cabin lives on through the legacy of craftsman, Henry Steiner. In the 1920s through the 1950s Steiner and his family built around a hundred cabins and other structures. Nordic Northwest has one of these very cabins on its campus: Fogelbo. A National Historic Site, Fogelbo is a perfect example of the craftsmanship and style of Henry Steiner.

This exhibit, presented by Nordic Northwest, was awarded a Capitol History Gateway Exhibit Sponsorship in 2022, which is funded by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization.

Please explore the panel below and use the menu in the upper left to navigate between scenes.

https://app.lapentor.com/sphere/steiner-exhibit

(Bill I need to embed the exhibit in here.)

Young tribal member points at exhibit of her nation.
Young tribal member points at exhibit of her nation in the cases that are between the hearing rooms on the first floor. 

The Capitol History Gateway Exhibit Cases: Capitol Construction

The Capitol has undergone much change in its life. Constructed in 1937-1938, the building has always been a beacon for those wishing to propose change. In 1977, the building had an expansion with the creation of hearing rooms and the “wings,” legislative offices for the Senate and House members. Today, the building is undergoing more change. With the need to create a more accessible and safe building, the legislature passed funding in 2016 to start the Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance and Safety (CAMS) construction project. To learn more about the buildings change over time, visit the exhibit cases in front of the hearing rooms on the first floor.

Capitol Art Collection

Second Creek Painting by Laura Ross Paul
Second Creek by Laura Ross Paul, 2008

The astounding Capitol Art Collection was the first funded by Oregon’s Percent for Art legislation, another of the state’s groundbreaking laws. Grab a self-guided tour brochure at the Guest Services Kiosk on the first floor and discover some of the Capitol’s fascinating art treasures. The collection features work by over 150 of Oregon’s finest artists and most pieces are housed in the legislative member office wings. A catalog containing photos and descriptions is available for purchase in the Capitol Store.

Preview the Capitol Art Collection [pdf].