Oregon's History Gateway at the Capitol Project
Strategic Planning | Development Report | Research | Mission Statement |
Project Newsletter | Pacific Wonderland License Plate | The Team
| Project Plan: Executive Summary | Project Plan Complete |
Project funding provided by the OSCF & SB 961
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| Photo: Gold Pioneer statue arrives at State Capitol |
In 2005 the Legislature passed HJR 32 directing the creation of a Capitol History Center to educate the 25,000 Oregon students and up to 250,000 annual visitors to the Capitol about Oregon's rich history. The 2009 Legislative Assembly created a funding source that created the Pacific Wonderland license plate and assigns 50% of the funds it generates to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation for a History Center.
Today, Oregon’s History Gateway Project continues to move toward reality as the Oregon State Capitol Foundation has contracted with The Canoe Group, a Portland based consulting firm specializing in strategic planning. The Canoe Group is guiding the Foundation through the strategic planning process. When completed, the strategic plan will identify stakeholders and potential partnerships and assess existing historical inventory. The strategic plan will help define the look, the historic focus, and how the program will be sustained.
Watch for future updates and project development on this website.
Following research, surveys, interviews, dialogues, discussions, focus groups and concepting charrettes, agreements have been reached on the strategic framework for Oregon’s History Gateway at the State Capitol. The next step is to clarify interpretive strategy and to reach initial agreements about the program, the organizational improvements and the operating structures that are needed to design, develop, run and operate Oregon’s History Gateway effectively.
As the project transitions into the Strategic Development Phase, the report findings reviewed and approved by OSCF will be used as a roadmap for the strategic plan development. The plan, scheduled to be completed by June, 2012, will outline phases over years. With OSCF's approval, the plan will be presented to the Legislative Administration Committee (LAC) for consideration and final adoption consideration.
View the Project Plan Executive Summary.
View the Complete Project Plan.
Capitol History Center Project Presentation Available on YouTube.
Click here to view the presentation on the Capitol History Center Project. The presentation was designed to give legislators and staff an update and overview of the project.
Project research was designed to answer questions that are guiding the Foundation through the process of defining essential elements necessary to preserve the past, engage future generations and enhance the visitor’s experience. Individuals and groups were interviewed including; historians, educators, legislators, museum curators, staff working in the building, stakeholder organizations, the public, Visitor Services’ tour guides, and Oregon State Capitol Foundation.
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| Photo: Concepting charrette hosted by the Oregon State Historical Society |
Through a series of in-person interviews, surveys and focus group meetings, the research will answer the following questions:
- What’s the most meaningful story you know about the Capitol?
- When school children visit the Capitol, what should they remember after they leave?
- What are visitors most curious to know?
- Why do they come? What do they want from their experience?
- What does our State Capitol – and all that is in it – communicate from the past and portend for the future.
- What would the people who have worked here tell us to “not forget”?
Oregon’s History Gateway at the State Capitol will concentrate on conveying a simple and primary storyline: “What in our history makes Oregon unique”. The answers to this question describe the “Oregon Story”.
Because a visit to the State Capitol presents a specific and unique learning opportunity, three interpretive themes will focus a lens on the relationship of the State Capitol to its citizens, its history and to the Oregon Story.
- What is my place in the Oregon story?
- What happens here at the State Capitol? What important things have happened here in the past?
- How does what has happened here connect and relate to the rest of the state of Oregon, to my life and my community's life?
These three themes will be illuminated in a variety of ways in all interpretive programs, exhibits, displays and experiences provided to visitors in the State Capitol building.
MISSION - PURPOSE - CORE VALUES
The mission statement outlined below conveys an imperative for action: the mission is designed to be timely, bold and vital to the people of the state, and to its leaders. The Oregon’s History Gateway will capture imagination and stimulate commitment from stakeholder groups.
Mission: "Ignite belief and stimulate involvement in Oregon's democracy."
Purpose
“Oregon’s History Gateway at the State Capitol will serve as a lens through which thousands and thousands of visitors can examine and clarify their understanding of the relationship of the State Capitol to The Oregon Story.”
Core Values
- Feature our State Capitol as "The People's Building"
- Educate people
- Preserve the past
- Showcase individuals and events
- Reflect our diversity
- Demonstrate the worth of remembering what has gone before
- July 13, 2012
- April 25, 2012
- April 6, 2012
- February 28, 2012
- January 30, 2012
- January 12, 2012
- December 21, 2011
- December 7, 2011
PACIFIC WONDERLAND LICENSE PLATE
Buy these Classic Oregon Plates & Help Preserve Oregon History.
The classic Pacific Wonderland license plate is reborn! Own this limited edition license plate re-created in honor of Oregon's 150th birthday. Proceeds from plate sales will be split evenly between the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and the Oregon Historical Society.
Further information and how to order yours.
The Governance Group serves several purposes; providing input by monitoring the project scope and resolving questions and problems that arise through the various phases of the project. The Governance Group provides input to the contractor and will make final recommendations for the strategic plan including; content, management, location, project phases, budget and timeline for implementation to the full OSCF.
The Pre-Planning Team met during the early stages of the project. Team members were asked to review the work plan, identify key stakeholder and potential partners and develop essential questions that must be addressed through the process.
The Canoe Group, a Portland company specializing in strategic initiative planning, is guiding the Foundation through the development process.
Contact information and answers to frequently asked questions about the legislature, legislative process other government agencies. The staff of the Oregon Legislature cannot respond to public requests for legal advice. To understand and protect your legal rights, consult your private lawyer. |
