[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2009-09-16

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  Memorial Coliseum listed in National Register
2.  Jenkins to be given Chiles Award by High Desert Museum
3.  Atlatls, duck decoys among Tamastslikt activities 
4.  Conservation grant applications available
5.  Two conferences slated for Oct. 1-3
6.  Sesquicentennial magazine offered to nonprofits


MEMORIAL COLISEUM LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER

The Memorial Coliseum in northeast Portland has been listed in the
National Register of Historic Places for its architectural importance to
the state of Oregon. Designed by the notable architectural firm of
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and constructed in 1960, the glass-walled
Memorial Coliseum is a spatially unique example of the International
Style in a public building within the state. 

Utilizing an innovative structural system, the building’s entire
weight is carried by four large concrete columns, allowing for its four
walls to be constructed of glass panels. Since no interior supports for
the building are present, a curving seating bowl was constructed which
allowed spectators the unusual ability to simultaneously watch an event
and see outside. At its time of completion, the Memorial Coliseum was
the only large-scale, glass-walled, and public structure in the Pacific
Northwest. 

The Memorial Coliseum joins only 16 other properties constructed after
1950 that are listed in the National Register in Oregon. The National
Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority
of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Oregon’s State
Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the building’s
nomination in June 2009.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings
is online at
http://www.oregonheritage.org/OPRD/HCD/NATREG/nrhp_recent_nominations.shtml
  


JENKINS TO BE GIVEN CHILES AWARD BY HIGH DESERT MUSEUM

The High Desert Museum has chosen renowned archaeologist Dennis Jenkins
for the 26th annual Earle A. Chiles Award, recognizing his more than two
decades of research into human ecology and cultural history dating back
14,000 years in the High Desert.

In 2002, Jenkins found evidence that humans were living in the Paisley
Caves in south central Oregon 14,000 years ago. That challenged the
theory of how and when the first people came to North America. His
revolutionary findings released last spring in Science attracted
worldwide attention. It involved interdisciplinary research, and an
international team of scientific experts. The museum says the finding
was a milestone in archaeology and in Jenkins' long career, throughout
which he succeeded in finding common ground with diverse groups of
Native American tribes and other interest groups in Oregon through
sometimes complex and sensitive negotiations. 

He also has shared his knowledge, traveling throughout Oregon,
educating the public about the meaning of  archaeological findings in
the High Desert. 

In Paisley, he and his students discovered camel bones and signs they
had been butchered by humans. Atop the bones they found what rigorous
DNA analysis revealed to be more than 14,000-year-old human feces,
called coprolites. Jenkins has called this "the perfect human
signature... the perfect artifact." The finding challenged the
prevailing belief that humans first came to this continent 13,000 years
ago across a land bridge from Asia. His work includes writing eight
books, numerous book chapters, articles and professional reports, and
work on three documentaries including the History Channel's "All About
Dung" in 2008.

The award is funded by the Chiles Foundation and will be presented 
Dec. 1. 


ATLATLS, DUCK DECOYS AMONG TAMASTSLIKT ACTIVITIES

Throwing darts at a target, spear tossing, crafting tule duck decoys
and prehistoric pizza are part of an Oregon Archeaology event at
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute. The event is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept.
19 at the institute at 72789 Highway 331, located 10 minutes east of
Pendleton off Exit 216 of Interstate 84.

During the event, experts also will demonstrate the atlatl,
flintknapping and tule duck decoy-making. Visitors will be able to
create a tule duck decoy and toss a spear. This event is free and open
to the public.

For more information, call 541-966-9748 or go to www.tamastslikt.org .


CONSERVATION GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Heritage Preservation says that applications for the 2010 Conservation
Assessment Program are now available on Heritage Preservation's website
at www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP. CAP is funded by the Institute of
Museum and Library Services and administered by Heritage Preservation, a
national non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of our
nation's collections. 

CAP provides funds for small to mid-sized museums to hire a
professional conservator, approved by Heritage Preservation, for a
two-day site visit. During the visit, the CAP assessor examines the
museum's collections, environmental conditions, and sites. The assessor
then spends three days writing a report recommending priorities to
improve collections care. The assessment reports can assist the museum
in developing strategies for improved collections care, long-range
planning, and fund-raising for collections care.

Applications will be accepted until the postmark deadline of Dec. 1.
For more information, contact Sara Gonzales at 202.233.0831 or
202.233.0800


TWO CONFERENCES SLATED FOR OCT. 1-3

Civic engagement and living history are the focus of two conferences
taking place Oct. 1-3.

Connect the dots and link ideas with actions at the Oregon Civic
Engagement Conference on Oct. 1-3 at the Salem Convention Center. The
conference, sponsored by Oregon Volunteers, AARP, and the Nonprofit
Association of Oregon, features national and international speakers, the
annual Governor's Volunteer Awards Luncheon, NAO's  town hall listening
session for everyone involved with nonprofits, and a host of trainings
to help you strengthen your organization and our shared community. View
the agenda
<http://www.tacs.org/files/uploads/OregonCivicEngageConf_NAOinvite_0.pdf
>  or visit the Oregon Volunteers website
<http://www.oregonvolunteers.org/>  to learn more.

Meanwhile, the Association of Living History Farms and Agricultural
Museums will host its 2009 western regional conference Oct. 1-3 in
Oregon City. The theme of the conference is "Telling Our Stories" with
tours and sessions that explore the ways in which museums, historic
farms and other sites use Living History interpretation to educate and
inspire their visitors, raise funds, and keep their history alive. Pre-
and post-conference activities will include visits to the Phillip Foster
Farm in Estacada, where guides use “second person” interpretation,
Mountain View cemetery for an “Oregon City Spirits” program, and
Champoeg State Heritage Area for its annual Apple Harvest Festival. More
information is available at www.alhfam.org.  


SESQUICENTENNIAL MAGAZINE OFFERED TO NONPROFITS

Oregon 150 has announced to all non-profit organizations in Oregon that
some Oregon 150 Official Collector's Edition magazines are being given
away. You can use them as a gift in an awards program, give them away
during an event, or even sell them to generate revenue for your
organization. Orders will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis.
To place an order - please send an email request to:
oregon150 at journalgraphics.com. Please state the quantity of boxes and
give your organization's name, your contact information, and a physical
mailing address. (There are 38 copies of the magazine in each box.
Standard shipping will be paid by Oregon 150.)
--------------------------------------------
Oregon Heritage News is a service of the Oregon Heritage Commission,
which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us