March 28, 2025 2;50 a.m.

Douglas County Commissioners along with the staff at the Douglas County Museum of History and Natural History have announced the opening of its newest limited-time exhibit in the Museum’s auditorium: Historic Firearms & Antique Quilts.

A county release said the Historic Firearms Exhibit features an impressive array of weapons from the museum’s extensive collection, offering a unique perspective on the cultural, technological, and historical significance of firearms throughout history. Some of the notable pieces in this display include:

*.75 Caliber Brown Bess British Muzzle Loader, circa 1797. A firearm widely used by British troops during the late 18th and early 19th centuries

*Military Flintock .69 Caliber Pistol, circa 1820s representing an era when Flinttock technology was the standard for military firearms

*Springfield Sporter 1903 .30 caliber rifle, featuring a hand-carved walnut stock crafted in Hong Kong. This rifle is particularly unique as it bears the Applegate name and the Applegate Coat of Arms, a tribute to one of Douglas County’s most well-known pioneer families.

Many of the firearms on display were generously donated to the museum by Edna Rauch, wife of Ray Rauch, a lifelong firearms enthusiast and collector.

Visitors can also enjoy the Antique Quilt Exhibit. It includes:

*Hand-stitched family quilts dating back to the mid-1800s, some of which made the journey along the Oregon Trail

*Four stunning Crazy Quilts from the 1890s to early 1900s, showcasing intricate patterns and embroidery

*Unique sewing machine from the 1850s, manufactured by the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company, one of the earliest pioneers in sewing machine production

Located adjacent to the Douglas County Fairgrounds, the museum is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the museum, go to: https://umpquavalleymuseums.org/