The Umatilla County Historical Society was recently awarded a grant for $25,000 from the Union Pacific Foundation for capital improvements to the Heritage Station Museum complex.
Eastern Oregon Business Source Community Development Coordinator Karen Willis wrote the grant request. The capital improvements include replacing the heating and air conditioning units, repairs to the breezeway between the museum buildings, and an upgrade to fencing to ensure the safety and security of museum staff, patrons, and museum property.
“The Historical Society has had from the beginning a special relationship with Union Pacific, and that relationship has strengthened over time,” said Umatilla County Historical Society Board President Tom Winn. “Together, we share a love of Umatilla County history, and the wonderful museum that stores and exhibits our stories.”
The Heritage Station Museum is housed in a converted 1909 Union Pacific railway depot. Extensively remodeled and expanded in 2003, it currently serves approximately 3,200 patrons every year. With the upcoming installation of the Umatilla Gold exhibit, which highlights the history of the wheat industry in Umatilla County, the museum anticipates as much as a 15-percent increase in the number of annual patrons.
“The capital improvements to the building are so important in order for us to keep welcoming new visitors and groups to the museum for years to come,” said Umatilla County Historical Society Executive Director Kari Brooks. “I’m so grateful for the partnership with Union Pacific; their support for these capital improvements shows a commitment and value to telling the story of Umatilla County.”
