Explore the historic hub of the Willamette Valley!
Starting with Albany’s founding in the early 1850s, the Museum’s exhibits follow the dynamic development of a city that by the early 1900s would grow to be one of the most prosperous in the state. Explore exhibits filled with a vibrant history of colorful characters, booming industry, and explosive events.
Temporary Gallery
Oregon’s Trail of Tears - OPENING AUGUST 2025
8/01/2025 - 1/2026
Albany artist, Nolan Streitberger presents his latest exhibition “Oregon’s Trail of Tears”, featuring haunting landscape photography exploring the 1856 route forcefully marched by hundreds of indigenous men, women, and children from Southern Oregon to a Reservation in the Mid-Willamette Valley 263 miles away. Paired with the personal journal entries of Indian Agent Geroge H. Ambrose, these imperfect photos, taken with an antique camera using a 1850s wet plate collodion photo process, create ghostly images that capture the grim and often forgotten story of Oregon's “Trail of Tears.” This exhibit is sponsored in part by the Oregon Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Kinsman Foundation.
Albany X-Files
2/01/2025 - 6/28/2025
Strange lights in the sky above Albany, terrifying monsters, and unsolved crimes. Investigate the truth behind some of the region’s most fascinating mysteries in our temporary exhibit, “Albany X-Files”, open February 1 to June 28, 2025.
Permanent Gallery
See highlights below from our permanent gallery.
Chinatown
Stand on the site of Albany’s forgotten Chinatown and discover the importance of Chinese labor in Albany’s development.
School Days
Did you know in 1911 you only needed to pass the 8th grade to graduate from public school and enter the work force? Come take the test students needed to pass (without smart phones or calculators) and see if you are ‘Smarter than an Eighth Grader’.
Timber Carnival
Get locked up in the Timber Carnival Can! Or at least explore our life-size replica. Learn about the international Timber Carnival hosted here in Albany and its exciting place on the world stage.
Farm Life
How heavy is a ten-gallon milk can? Can you lift one? Find out while discovering the importance of Albany’s agricultural and dairy industries. Read about the daily routine of farm wives and the pivotal role they played in life on the farm.