Written by: Carolyn Kingsnorth
One of Jacksonville’s main attractions is its history. People may choose to live, visit, eat, or shop in Jacksonville, but what typically brings them here is the town’s historic character.
Most of us think of history as that boring stuff we had to study in school—names, dates, places, and battles that we learned for a test and promptly forgot. But history is really who we are—the events, the people, the stories. It was Jacksonville’s history that saved the gold rush town that became the late 1800s hub of Southern Oregon. It’s why we have the National Historic Landmark District that we know today—the first group of buildings on the West Coast to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places!
But without programs, events, and activities that share that history, the 100+ structures in Jacksonville’s Historic Landmark District are just old buildings with names and dates on them. In 2013, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. was organized to bring that history to life—to share the stories of the people and events that make the town’s history both fascinating and fun.
When Jackson County transferred ownership of five historic buildings to the City of Jacksonville in 2012, the City lacked staff resources to open these buildings to the public. Two could be leased or transferred to another non-profit. One, the county’s historic 1883 courthouse, became Jacksonville’s new City Hall. But two of the buildings were museums—the 1870s Beekman House, home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest and most prominent pioneer family; and the 1863 Beekman Bank, the oldest financial institution in the Pacific Northwest. These two buildings were the impetus for establishing Historic Jacksonville, Inc.
Historic Jacksonville immediately started a “1932 Living History” program that opened the Beekman House to the public. Historical interpreters portraying Beekman family members and friends showed guests around the house while sharing stories of life in the late 1800s and how the town survived the Great Depression. These tours continue to this day with Historic Jacksonville’s last “1932 Living History” tour this year on May 13th.
Bringing the Beekman Bank to life came next. The bank had been preserved as a museum since Cornelius Beekman locked the doors in 1915. Over $40 million in gold had crossed its counters during Jacksonville’s heyday (worth $1billion+ today), and it was a time capsule of 19th Century banking practices. Beekman had also been the Wells Fargo agent for over 50 years, so the bank had seen thousands of shipments of mail and goods. And as the stagecoach stop, it had been the source of news. The Bank was a repository of stories.
“Behind the Counter” tours allowed guests to explore the Bank, read stagecoach schedules, peer into drawers filled with original paperwork, enter the vault, and even open the safe. A costumed docent was on hand to oversee the original artifacts and share the many stories the building had to tell. These popular free tours continue to be offered. This summer’s “banking hours” are 11am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday from May 27 through September 3.
However, while the contents of the Beekman House and Bank were all original and unchanging, there was no way to share all their many stories in one visit. The challenge became how to encourage guests to come back for more. This led to Beekman House “Victorian Days,” each one looking at a different aspect of Victorian life through the lens of Jacksonville and the Beekman Family, and “Victorian Christmas,” sharing the origins of the holiday traditions that the town’s original settlers brought with them from around the world. Lantern-lit “Secrets and Mysteries of the Beekman Bank” tours shared unique features of the bank and incidents from its history.
But the house and bank were only two elements in Jacksonville’s storied past. Over the years Historic Jacksonville has continued to find new ways to share the town’s fascinating history— “Walk through History,” “Haunted History,” blogs, daily social media posts, pioneer profiles, videos and more.
We invite you to visit our website at https://www.historicjacksonville.org where you will find links to upcoming events and a treasure trove of opportunities to “step back in time” and dip into Jacksonville history!
Rogue Valley Voices
In 2023 we highlight local organizations whose projects contribute so much to the betterment of our community, our valley and the larger world. By showcasing them we support their work, and encourage others to join their efforts for the greater good.
