7/19/2022 11:35 a.m.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners released a statement Monday detailing part 3 of the “What Can Douglas County Government do for you?” series.
Commissioners Tim Freeman, Chris Boice and Tom Kress said they’re excited to have the opportunity to highlight the services provided by “one of our most engaging and interesting departments,” the Douglas County Museums.
They said the department consists of both the Douglas Museum of History and Natural History and the Umpqua River Lighthouse and Coastal history Museum.
For this installment of “What Can Douglas County Government do for you?” the commissioners focused on the history and exhibits of the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History.
Monday’s release said the Douglas County Museum opened in 1969 and is currently under the direction of Jamie Davis, who has led the museum for over 3 years.
Davis oversees a team of full-time, and part-time employees at the museum, including Karen Bratton, the Museum Research Librarian who has been with the museum for over 24 years.
The commissioners said the museum relies on volunteers who help with everything from operations and events, to collection maintenance and the creation of new exhibits.
The museum is also supported by the Douglas County Museum Foundation, a non-profit founded in 1982 to help promote and encourage the growth of local museums.
The release Monday said that at any given time, only about 5% of the museums vast collections are on display. The displays are changed regularly to keep exhibits exciting for visitors, and also to aid in preserving the items on display by limiting their exposure to light and air the two main enemies of preservation, according to the commissioners.
They also noted that the Douglas County Museum also holds the state’s second largest historic photograph collection with more than 25,000 images dating back to the mid-19th century.
Museum Liaison, Commissioner Tom Kress, said “Our Douglas County Museum is more than just a place to stop and look at ‘old things.’ It is a monument to our living history. It represents our heritage and provides a sneak peek into a way of life and industry from yesteryear.”
The Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History is located at 123 Museum Drive, just off I5 exit 123 by the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Find more information at https://umpquavalleymuseums.org/.