David Abrahamson

Review of Portland Historical Society

The museum would be more appropriately named the "...

The museum would be more appropriately named the "Oregon Racism Museum". Doing so would properly frame the nature of the exhibits, which deal pretty comprehensively with the role that discrimination played in Oregon's history. What is absent, however, is a more general and constructive treatment of the state's varied background. An example of the museum's focus is the long video about how the construction of the dam that submerged Celilo falls impacted the Indian tribe that had fished there for generations. But there is no information on the dam itself, why the authorities chose to devote enormous resources to its constructions, how the clean energy that it generates is even more relevant today, and other considerations. In summary, the visitor walks away from the museum better informed about some of the state's racist warts, but no more educated about the state's innumerable other historical facets than when they walked in.