Oregon's National Monuments Essays

>Foree Area rock formations along Highway 19 — Foree Area rock formations along Highway 19 are part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument Sheep Rock Unit (Oregon State Archives Photo)

Oregon’s National Monuments are some of the most unique and special places in North America. They’re beautiful, complex and are an important part of our state’s story. Here you’ll find two essays from experts who have studied the monuments from their own perspective.

Douglas Deur’s essay explores the intersection of Oregon’s nine federally recognized tribes with the national monuments. Dr. Deur has worked closely with Native American knowledge holders and multidisciplinary research teams, and frequently coauthors with Native American scholars and elders. He’s an award-winning author and researcher with a very popular foraging guidebook that has been on the New York Times Best Seller list. Dr Deur is adopted Kwakwaka’wakw with advanced degrees in geography and anthropology.

Jason McClaughry is a native Oregonian and the Eastern Oregon Regional Geologist for the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). He has worked extensively across the state mapping and researching volcanic provinces. McClaughry holds a M.S. degree in Geology from Washington State University and a B.S. degree in Geology from the University of Puget Sound.

Monumental Places: National Monuments in the Culture and Heritage of Oregon’s Tribes >
Written by Douglas Deur

A Brief Account of a Long Geologic History in Oregon’s Four National Monuments >
Written by Jason D. McClaughry