Union County Museum fundraiser supports historic buildings, exhibits and archives

A fundraiser on April 25 is aimed at keeping Union County Museum’s five-building campus in Union in repair, from the historic 1st National Bank building to the Memorial Courtyard, while also supporting the exhibits and archives that document more than 150 years of county history. The volunteer-run museum, at 333 South Main Street in Union’s National Historic District, depends on membership fees, admission revenue, gift shop sales, donations and grants to cover the costs of preserving the site.

That funding matters because the museum is more than a single room of displays. Its collections are spread across five buildings and include small objects, family history files, archival photographs and stories tied to generations of Union County residents. The historic 1st National Bank building holds many of the small-object and family collections, while the Welcome Lobby houses the gift shop, research area, docent station and public restroom. Other parts of the campus include the Livery Station and the Memorial Courtyard, each adding to the maintenance burden that comes with operating in older structures.

The museum says it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which means tax-deductible memberships and gifts help keep the operation moving. That support underwrites specific projects, exhibits, expansions and facility upgrades, a practical need for a site that is open only seasonally, from Mother’s Day through September. Regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission listed by the city of Union is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students and free for children under 6.

April 25 lands in the middle of a busy spring calendar, when Eastern Oregon is already crowded with music performances and community gatherings. For Union County, the fundraiser offers something more durable than a one-night event: it helps preserve a local archive where residents can research family history, view old photographs and trace the county’s story through objects that might otherwise be lost. The museum can be reached at 541-562-6003, and its work now rests on whether the community continues to support the buildings and collections that keep Union County’s past visible.