DIGITAL EDITIONS
Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks, Oregon
Words and photos by Elaine Rea
Although it is located just one-quarter of a mile west of Interstate 5 at Exit 263, the Powerland Heritage Park is a cultural treasure than remains unknown to most Oregonians. On this 62-acre site for 53 years, the park is a collection of 14, independent museums that celebrate the Willamette Valley’s rich history in transportation, logging, and agriculture. The park is managed by the all-volunteer Antique Powerland Museum Association and admission is $6.00 per person ages 12 and over (except for special events) but each museum separately relies on donations from visitors. A self-guided audio tour of the park is available via QR code. The park plays host to the annual Great Oregon Steam-up (antiquepowerland.com/steam-up), held the last weekend in July and first weekend in August. All of the museums are open for demonstrations, rides, and events. It is a favorite with families and over 20,000 antique equipment aficionados will travel to Brooks to attend. Each May, there is a S.T.E.A.M.’d Up for Kids day with hands-on building workshops, miniature train rides, and a scavenger hunt. The park has a Blacksmith Shop where experienced hobbyists work on the four (three coal, one gas) forges. Also in the park is the Willow Creek Railroad, a 1/8th scale railroad with nearly 5,500 feet of track running trains with steam or diesel engines.
On our visit we toured:
Pacific Northwest Truck Museum –Housed in three buildings, the Truck Museum has over 90 trucks on display; from antique to modern day. Many are one-of-a-kind, limited run, or prototype vehicles built in the northwest by Peterbilt, Kenilworth, and others. The Museum sponsors a truck show at the end of August. Do not miss the large display of unique, vintage wrenches.
Oregon Electric Railway Museum – The Oregon Electric Railway Museum was established at Powerland in 1996 and has the largest collection of trolleys in the Northwest built by manufacturers all over the world and dating back to the 1890’s. They will add a TriMet MAX Type 1 light rail car to their display later this year. The museum play hosts to the Powerland Halloween Adventure, with fun activities for kids of all ages, on weekends throughout the month of October.
Willamette Valley Model Railroad & Operating Museum – Inside the museum is a depiction of the 1887 Springfield to Ashland Southern Pacific Siskiyou Line. It is a work in progress that began in the building almost six years ago using HO gauge (1:87 scale) track running trains with digital command controls. The all-volunteer crew is highlighting Oregon’s “Riches Ride the Rails” with a focus on the agricultural, timber, and mining products that were carried by steam and later diesel trains through what is now the Interstate 5 corridor. It begins at Tunnel 13, near Siskiyou, Oregon (the site of the October 1923, “last great train robbery in the West”) and ends in Eugene. The facility is open on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00pm for public visits. Come see the amazing, detailed work in miniature and receive a history lesson too!
Other organizations operating museums in the park are:
Antique Caterpillar Machinery Museum – Opened in 2011, this museum is the dedicated to the preservation and operation of antique Caterpillar equipment.
Antique Implement Society – Exhibits are housed in two buildings and feature large, antique machines powered by early gas and diesel engines.
Branch 15 Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association – Their building is a replica of Wolf Iron Works of Portland with all of the original equipment used to fabricate drag saws in the first half of the 20th Century. It is open to visitors during events.
Brooks Historical Society – The Historical Society is housed in Brooks’ 1887-built Southern Pacific Train Depot and was moved to Powerland Heritage Park in 1989.
Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum – This museum is a popular meeting site for car clubs and the site of the annual Heritage Car Show each September. Adjacent to the museum is a 1938-vintage Texaco Station.
Oregon Vintage Machinery Museum featuring John Deere – This museum features a replica of a 1940’s John Deere dealership and among their collection is a vintage classic, 1919 Waterloo Boy tractor.
Pacific Northwest Logging Museum – The Logging Museum is the site of the Oregon State High School Forestry Championships in April featuring the log rolling competition!
Western Railway Preservation Society – The Society is working on a future site at Powerland with an emphasis in preserving narrow gauge rail engines, rolling stock, and associated structures and equipment.
Western Steam Fiends Association – This is the group that established what is now known as Powerland Heritage Park. Members are steam engine enthusiasts who operate and maintain various machines around the park including a rail-mounted steam crane and a steam-powered sawmill.
The newest addition to Powerland opening in June 2024 is the Oregon Fire Service Museum (oregonfiremuseum.org).
