About us.

The Grant County Historical Museum was established in 1953, but the collection itself has been around much longer. A gentleman by the name of Charley Brown started building a collection of “old relics” in his service station in the early 1900s. His collection grew in both size and notoriety over several decades. In the 1950s, the Pendleton Round Up offered to buy Charley’s collection. The people of Grant County believed the history should stay in Grant County. With the support of the community, the Grant County Historical Society was able to raise enough money to buy the collection instead. For a while, the collection was homeless. The lot was donated by the town of Canyon City and the building was constructed and donated by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Oliver.

In 1953, the building finished construction and was dubbed The Oliver Museum. The first curator was none other than Charley Brown. In the 70 years since then, the name has changed to the Grant County Historical Museum and we have added much more to the collection. Though much has changed, our pioneer roots still live on.

Our Amazing Team

It takes a village to run a local museum! We have a curator, a board of directors, and a group of wonderful volunteers.

Volunteer Agreement

Curator

Kitman Kienzle

Kitman has been with GCHM since 2022. She has a degree in Public History from Fort Lewis College and a love of local history and historic architecture. Kitman moved to Grant County in 2019 and has spent much of the last two years learning all she can about Grant County history.

Leadership and Supervision

Board of Directors

The Museum has a Board of Directors made of of five to seven individuals from a variety of backgrounds. The Board provides valuable knowledge and leadership to GCHM. Board meetings take place on the second Tuesday of every month at 4:30 at GCHM.

Support

Volunteers

Our volunteers are the backbone of the Museum. Since GCHM opened in 1953, there have been innumerable volunteers who have given their time and passion to the museum. If you would like to join the ranks of volunteers, please check out our Volunteer Agreement.

Grant County Oregon Historical Museum

4.7

Based on 30 reviews

review us on

Linda Rochon

14:46 01 Oct 23

One of the best, most interesting museums I’ve ever been to. Loved it. The manager was so knowledgeable and helpful.

Brian Mason

05:44 07 Sep 23

Nathan Forsythe

05:06 20 Jul 23

I was 13 years old when my dad took us three kids to that museum, and oh my I got to see an antique car with solid rubber tires, and a two-headed calf. outside was the San Juaquin Miller Cabin, and the Greenhorn Jail right next to it which it was so cool to go inside. I also revisited it with my mom when I was 21.

John Hansen

04:54 26 Jun 23

Tamara O’Neill

22:14 03 Jun 23

Great little place to visit. Very organized.

Mike “CrowMike”

16:41 09 May 23

Interesting area with lots of history spread around this little area. Make sure and take a walk around town and see where Gold was first discovered in this area in the early 1860’s. Go behind the museum and cross the street and look for the big sign and old ore car and monitor nozzle.

marlene mar.warren723@hotmail.com

02:06 14 Mar 22

Museum was great. My father was Oscar Hoverson, the bank teller who was kidnapped and assaulted during bank robbery in (I think 1937). My sister and I have donated all of the newspaper articles of the bank robbery to the museum but I just discovered a letter written to dad by one of the robbers (from Alcatraz) asking him to say he wasn’t kidnapped so could get a reduced sentence. Dad did not reply to him! If the museum would like to add the letter I will be glad to send. Marlene Hoverson Warren

Eric Valentine

20:10 15 Jul 21

It is easy to miss this place as you travel along Hwy 395. It is well worth the stop. The museumprovides a broad array of artifacts from our western history. The curator is friendly and can answer all kinds of questions. It is a great family stop. Children—and adults— will be fascinated.