Champoeg State Heritage Area

Situated on the south bank of the scenic Willamette River, Champoeg’s acres of forest, fields and wetlands recreate the landscape of a bygone era. Visitors can tour the park’s visitor center, Newell House, and Pioneer Mother’s Log Cabin museums to discover pioneer life at Champoeg. Or a guided walk explains what happened to the bustling pioneer town of Champoeg, and how the Donald Manson Barn was built.  An 1860s-style garden lies next to the visitor center. The park also includes the Historic Butteville Store, founded in 1863. It is considered the oldest operating store in Oregon. The store is the last commercial vestige of the once-thriving Willamette River community of Butteville.

Besides its historical and cultural relevance, Champoeg is a beautiful place to walk or bike along the Willamette River and catch a glimpse of park wildlife, including western bluebirds. The park also has camping and picnic amid a dense stand of Oregon oak and ash trees. Visitors can play disc golf, go fishing and canoeing, or just relax and take in the entire scene.

Champoeg is the site of the vote that established the first American Provisional Government in the Pacific Northwest in 1843. Besides everything listed above, the park hosts period-specific events that are fun the for the whole family. Events include Founders Day, to celebrate the historic vote; Living History Day, where volunteers in period costumes demonstrate 19th center farm skills; and 19th century-reminiscent Barn Dances.

• ADA accessible
• Fee required for parking
• Trained guides available
• Interpretive signage
• Visitor center on site