Union County Museum to host family fun day in courtyard

The Union County Museum brought families into its Ann Deering Memorial Courtyard for a free “Fun in the Courtyard” gathering built around craft making and homemade ice cream. The afternoon, also described by the museum as “Summer Crafts, Cookies & Ice Cream,” gave visitors a low-cost reason to stop at 333 S. Main Street in Union, inside the town’s National Historic District.

The setting mattered as much as the activities. The museum says the Ann Deering Memorial Courtyard “brings the museum outside for fair-weather activities,” and the space is designed as part of the heritage experience rather than a plain patio. Permanent features include a vintage bicycle, circa 1960, seating areas for sun or shade, native plant species, and a rose bush brought to Union County on the Oregon Trail.

That outdoor space gives the museum a way to pull traffic toward a small local institution that depends on being seen. The Union County Museum Society says it “collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits artifacts to illustrate the story of humans and their environment in Union County, Oregon,” while the Oregon Cultural Trust describes it as “an all volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and displaying history of Union County.” Events that invite in children, parents and visitors help turn that preservation mission into a physical visit, which can build the kind of future support small museums need through admissions, donations and volunteer interest.

The free admission also lowered the barrier to entry. That matters in Union County, where a summer outing has to compete with fairs, festivals and travel around the region. A courtyard ice cream social, craft tables and a heritage setting offer something immediate for families while also introducing newcomers to the museum’s exhibits and to the history it safeguards.

The museum is open from Mother’s Day through September, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., keeping the courtyard and the collections active through the busiest part of the season. In 2026, the museum is marking 55 years, a milestone that gives added weight to every event meant to keep downtown Union’s cultural anchor in front of the public.