Kidd’s Toy Museum
Home to over 20,000 toys, Kidd’s Toy Museum in Portland should be your next stop for a spooky museum experience. Eighty-three year old Portland Native, Frank Kidd, always had an interest in collecting pennies, trinkets, and toys. After 70 years of collecting, he has built up a collection of unique antiques, including trains, dolls, cars, figurines, and so on. Kidd’s collection continues to expand, and has surpassed the amount of room that he has available in the museum, causing him to store some of the collectibles elsewhere. Despite this, he has no interest in expanding the museum, not only because it’s pricey, but also because his collection will always continue to expand and grow. Make sure you check out this quirky museum next time you find yourself in Portland!
Crater Rock Museum
The Crater Rock Museum has a plethora of interesting and imaginative exhibits, including a black light display, shown above. They showcase a wide assortment of minerals, gemstones, fossils, rocks and petrified wood. They also have a gift shop that sells locally made pieces made by members of the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society. The museum is perfect for return visits, regularly hosting events for their members. Guided Tours are available by appointment and they even offer meeting spaces for gatherings or meetings. They have surprisingly low admission fees for what they offer, and are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.
Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum
Hidden away in John Day, the Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum is an incredibly preserved look into Chinese-American life and culture from almost 100 years ago. The building was bought by two Chinese immigrants, Ing “Doc” Hay and Lung On, in 1888. Along with the traditional Chinese medicine that Doc Hay treated his patients with, he also sold food, tobacco, and homebrew whiskey at the shop. For about 60 years, the shop served as a social, medical, and religious center for the Chinese-Americans in the area. In the 1940’s, Doc Hay went into a nursing home after breaking his hip and the shop was simply locked up and abandoned until it was once again explored in 1969. The interior had been perfectly preserved with thousands of dried up Chinese herbs and period foods simply collecting dust on the shelves. So don’t miss out on the chance to visit a truly unique time capsule of the world.
Museum of Whimsy
The Museum of Whimsy located in Astoria, Oregon is a 1920’s bank that has been converted into a whimsical shop full of oddities. The entirety of the museum is spread throughout two floors of the bank, and contains pieces from many decades. The museum has a vast collection of quirky curiosities, so you’ll never know what treasures or trinkets you will come across. One item on display is a full-sized replica of a British canal narrowboat parked in the middle of the museum, that allows you to climb inside and experience the time period. Under further examination of the rooms you will find intricate wax boxes, and a large collection of vintage clothing that is sure to spark your interest. There is also a striking collection of hats hung on display by the entrance. The collection found in this museum will leave you shocked with every turn
Museum of Mental Health
Mental health is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot these days, but it’s remarkable that we can have discussions free of judgment and shaming now. Part of that is owed to the mental health professional pioneers and innovators of the Oregon State Hospital, which the Oregon Museum of Mental Health seeks to pay homage to. There are exhibits running constantly, and they are constantly adding new stories and honoring more mental health professionals. One of the more recent exhibits is a look back at the film, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, which should certainly attract any film buffs. Permanent exhibits include a timeline of the history of mental illness, as well as a look back at all of the attempts at treatment, some good, others very bad. A great visit for anyone seeking perspective and insight.
Oregon Obscura 