Ft. Dalles Museum opens March 22 with new exhibits; Opioids, Tooth Extractors and all things TD fascinating
Fort Dalles Museum, in The Dalles, Oregon, is housed in the former Surgeon’s Quarters; the only remaining officer’s quarters of the 1856 Fort Dalles military complex. One of Oregon’s oldest history museums, it first opened its doors in 1905.
By Tom Peterson
Click to enlarge. This new curation shows some of the artifacts found in Chinatown in The Dalles as well as a great story on the longest running Chinese business on First Street.
Make sure to pet Midnight when you go.
Fort Dalles Museum’s seasonal opening is coming with some interesting new details as the local archive of all things The Dalles has several new exhibits including a curation of an opium pipe, needle and spoon found in a tunnel entrance south of The Dalles Mercantile.
Check it out when the Museum Opens for the season on March 22. It is open 7 days a week from from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
Museum Coordinator Crystal Ross said the exhibit was put together with the help of Marilyn Urness who wrote China Town The Dalles Oregon 1860-1930. The two located a display case at Red’s Trading Post and the rest is history.
Opioids have been around a long time, Ross concurred noting these relics likely came from an opium den in downtown The Dalles.
The Display case also features Ah Chew Kee (probably Wong Chung) who had the Chew Kee Company Store at 214 E. First St., in The Dalles, from about 1889 to 1942. It was the longest-running Chinese business in The Dalles, and the last remaining one in Chinatown, according to the curation. It sold groceries, clothing and teas.
It is believed Wong Chung came to The Dalles in 1869 and was a cook at the Umatilla House, which was a major hotel on the Banks of the Columbia Near the current Union Street underpass.
Interesting stuff. This is cool too. The Museum is offering to free admission days this spring, March 26 and April Fool’s day. Free admission, well, that’s not foolish. Frugal, if you ask me. Otherwise, the price of admittance is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 and older, $1 for ages 7 to 17, and ages 6 and under are free.
Opening day at The Fort Dalles Museum is set for Wednesday, March 22. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, admission will be free on March 26 and April 1st. Here, Museum Coordinator Crystal Davis poses with the famous green dress worn in the photo of the Sorosis Clu. The group established Sorosis Park. This dress can be seen being worn in the new Walldog Mural on the east side of Oliver’s Flooring building, 414 Federal Street.
The Mural - There’s that same dress and hat - left, center.
Ross said she and the other 14 volunteers have been resetting the museum adding lighting and developing different cases including Native American Artifacts as well as some cool items from medicine and dentistry from the turn of the century. The tooth extractor will send shiver’s up your mandible or jaw. That thing could drive a ten-penny nail!
Hmm. Maybe these are the best of times!
Here’s The Dalles Original Hospital on the cliff next to Seventh Street, the current location of North Central Public Health Offices, 419 E. 7th St.
It’s also pretty cool to understand how Fort Dalles fit into the current landscape of The Dalles. Archeologist Eric Gleason put together the following map to give you some ideas on how the fort was laid out in the current neighborhood surrounding Col. Wright Elementary. The Fort’s boundaries are shown by the green line.
Click on this map to expand it and see how Fort Dalles laid out in the current neighborhood.
The Museum needs several more volunteers to work 4-hour shifts in the morning or afternoon. You can reach her at 541-296- 4547. Check out the museum’s website here.
