PENDLETON, Ore.-To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Umatilla County residents are invited to contribute their stories to a time capsule in the Umatilla County Historical Society (UCHS) archives.
The UCHS will be collecting stories from March 3 until July 3 for “Telling Your Story: America at 250 Years.”
“Our motto is telling the story,” said UCHS Executive Director Shannon Gruenhagen. “We wanted to do something that would highlight what we do here at the historical society while creating something for future generations. Our job is to keep records of not just the past but also the present, recording history in real time.”
According to UCHS, the project is an opportunity to teach the public about the preservation process. All archival-friendly materials will be used when collecting stories to put in a container that will be kept in the archives and opened in celebration of the Tricentennial in 2076.
“Telling Your Story” is part of America 250-Oregon, a series of programming, exhibits, and events being held around the state in observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
The mission of the America 250- Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations.
Umatilla County residents who would like to participate and share their stories should contact staff at UCHS.
More information about America 250-Oregon and events around the state in 2026 is available online.
