Information and history of the state of Oregon

Spanish and English sailors are believed to have sighted the Oregon coast in the 1500s and 1600s. Capt. James Cook, seeking the Northwest Passage, charted some of the coastline in 1778. In 1792, Capt. Robert Gray, in the Columbia, discovered the river named after his ship and claimed the area for the U.S.

In 1805 the Lewis and Clark expedition explored the area. Disputes for control of Oregon between American settlers and the Hudson Bay Company were finally resolved in the 1846 Oregon Treaty, in which Great Britain gave up claims to the region.

Oregon became the 33rd state on February 14, 1859

Some Oregon Symbols

1. State Bird	2. State Mammal	3. State Flower	4. State Fish	5. State Insect
6. State Tree	7. State Beverage	8. State Fruit	9. State Gemstone	10. State Rock

1. Western Meadowlark - The western meadowlark was chosen as the state bird of Oregon in 1927.
2. Beaver - Oregon designated the beaver as the official state animal in 1969.The beaver appears on the reverse of the state flag, and Oregon's nickname is "The Beaver State".
3. Oregon Grape -The Oregon grape was designated the Oregon state flower in 1899. The Oregon grape plant bears dainty yellow flowers in early summer and a dark blue berry that ripens late in the fall.
4. Chinook Salmon - Oregon designated the chinook salmon as the official state fish in 1961.
5. Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly - The Oregon swallowtail butterfly was designated as Oregon’s official state insect in 1979.
6. Douglas Fir - Oregon designated the Douglas-fir as the official state tree in 1939.
7. Milk - Milk was designated the official state beverage of Oregon in 1997, recognizing milk production and the manufacture of dairy products as major contributors to the economic well-being of Oregon agriculture.
8. Pear - Oregon designated the pear as the official state fruit in 2005. Oregon produces a variety of pears including Comice, Anjou, Bosc, and Bartlett.
9. Sunstone - The Oregon sunstone was designated the state's official gemstone in 1987. Oregon sunstones are uncommon in their composition, clarity, and range of colors.
10. Thunder-Egg - Oregon designated the thunder-egg (geode) as the official state rock in 1965 after the rockhounds of Oregon voted it as their first choice.

Did you know?

• Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
• Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is formed in the remains of an ancient volcano.
• In 1905 the largest long cabin in the world was built in Portland to honor the Lewis and Clark expedition.
• At 11,239 feet Mount Hood stands as the tallest peak in Oregon. Mount Hood is a dormant volcano.
• Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state.
• At 329 feet the Coast Douglas-Fir in Oregon is considered the tallest tree in the state.