The surgeon's quarters at the Fort Dalles Museum in The Dalles. (Oregon State Archives Photo) First General Land Office opens in Oregon CityWillamette Valley Treaty Commission negotiates treatiesTeamsters discover gold in Rogue River ValleyAnson Dart convenes Tansy Point Treaty Council at mouth of ColumbiaFirst U.S. Army post, Fort Orford, built at Port OrfordU.S. Coast Survey begins charting shoreline
U.S. Army establishes Fort Dalles on Oregon TrailCongress names Salem capital of Oregon Territory
Territorial legislature adopts Oregon law codeU.S. Army establishes Fort Lane in Rogue River ValleyTerritorial legislature publishes Oregon ArchivesCongress funds Scottsburg-Myrtle Creek Wagon RoadCow Creek and Rogue River Indians negotiate treaties with U. S.Congress carves Washington Territory out of Oregon TerritoryFirst coal exports begin on southwest Oregon coast
Volunteers massacre Coquille IndiansLegislature prohibits sale of ardent spirits, arms and ammunition to tribesLegislature bars testimony of "Negroes, mulattoes, and Indians, or persons one half or more of Indian blood" in proceedings involving a white person
Pacific Railroad Surveys examine potential routesUmatilla and Nez Perce tribes sign treaties at Walla Walla Treaty Council, reserving land and rights to food resourcesWarms Springs tribes sign treaty reserving land and rights to food resourcesRogue River Indian War and Yakima Indian War commencePresident James Buchanan creates Siletz ReservationTerritorial capitol burns in Salem
U.S. Army establishes Forts Umpqua, Hoskins and YamhillPresident James Buchanan creates Grand Ronde ReservationU.S. Army orders closure of settlement east of Cascades because of warfare with Indians
Blacks were not welcome in Oregon in the mid-1800s. Learn more about their experiences in the Black in Oregon, 1840—1870 Web exhibit.Constitutional Convention meets in SalemDraft constitution bans slavery and bars African-Americans from residencyAaron Meier founds Meier & Frank Department Store
First election selects state officials
Congress grants Oregon statehood on February 14, becoming only state admitted to Union with exclusion laws in their constitutionFirst bank established by Ladd & Tilton in PortlandFirst elected governor of state, John Whiteaker, inaugurated
Census enumerates 52,465 residentsOregon Steam Navigation Company commences serviceFirst daily stage operates between Portland and Sacramento
First Oregon State Fair held at Oregon City
Congress passes Homestead ActFirst Oregon Cavalry raises six companiesGold rush commences to Blue MountainsFirst portage railroad completed at CascadesLaws passed banning interracial marriages; requiring Blacks, Chinese, Hawaiians (Kanakas) and Mulattos to pay annual $5 tax, those not able to pay required to perform road maintenance
U.S. Army establishes Fort Klamath
Telegraph line connects Portland-SacramentoU.S. Army establishes Camp WatsonTreaty creates Klamath ReservationPopular vote approves Salem as state capital
Long Tom Rebellion confirms pro-southern sympathiesCongress authorizes Oregon Central Military Wagon Road
First lighthouse, Cape Arago, illuminates light signalU.S. Army establishes Camp WarnerMarried Women's Property Act protects women's rightsCongress authorizes Corvallis-Yaquina Bay Military Wagon Road and Willamette Valley-Cascade Mountain Military Wagon Road
U.S. Army establishes Fort HarneyCongress authorizes The Dalles-Boise Military Wagon Road
Weatherford Hall on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis. (Oregon State Archives Photo) Oregon State Agricultural College opens (later becomes Oregon State University)
Direct export of wheat to Europe beginsCongress authorizes Coos Bay Military Wagon Road
U.S. Census enumerates 90,923 residentsAbigail Scott Duniway launches suffrage campaignDespite failing in Oregon election, U.S. Constitution adds 15th Amendment granting African-American men the right to vote
Oregon & California Railroad completes line to RoseburgModoc Indian War commences
Oregon Patrons of Husbandry (Grange) forms chaptersModoc Indians face trial and execution at Fort KlamathOregon Pioneer Association formsGreat fire destroys much of downtown Portland
First U.S. Life-Saving Service station opens near Coos Bay
University of Oregon opensRobert D. Hume builds salmon cannery on Rogue River
Nez Perce Indian War involves Chief Joseph's bandCongress passes Desert Land Act
High schools authorized for districts with 1,000 studentsBannock-Paiute Indian War sweeps into southeastern OregonWomen gain right to vote in school elections
BIA Indian Training School opens in Forest Grove, third boarding school of its type, designed to assimilate tribal children into white culture, teach vocational skills
Great Gale snow and wind storm devastates parts of Oregon and WashingtonU.S. Census enumerates 174,768 residentsO. R. & N. Company begins railroad through Gorge
The Cottage on the campus of Western Oregon University in Monmouth. The institution started as a normal school to train teachers. (Oregon State Archives Photo) Normal schools open in Monmouth, Ashland and Drain to train teachers
O. R. & N. Company railroad reaches Umatilla providing transcontinental links
Oregon Short Line railroad extends to Huntington
BIA Indian Training School opens near Salem, is renamed Chemawa Indian School
Oregon Supreme Court admits Mary Gysin Leonard to the state bar as Oregon’s first female lawyerChief Joseph's Nez Perce band locates on Colville Reservation
Thugs murder ten Chinese miners in Hells CanyonGeneral Allotment Act assaults tribal lands on reservationsCranberry harvests commenceFirst in U.S. to make Labor Day a holiday
First Agricultural Experiment Station opens at Corvallis
Congress passes Oregon Indian Depredation Claims ActU.S. Census enumerates 313,767 residentsChinese Consolidated Benevolent Association founded
Congress passes Forest Reserve Act
Congress authorizes Columbia River Lightship No. 50
Mazama Club forms to promote outdoor adventure
Workmen complete Cascade Locks
Holdup of '97 blocks state legislature
Oregon Historical Society receives charter
Workmen complete Yamhill River Locks U.S. Census enumerates 413,536 residents
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