CORBETT, Ore. — Visitors to the Crown Point Country Museum this summer will have the opportunity to explore new exhibits highlighting Indigenous history, leadership, and cultural influence, alongside a celebrated contemporary art installation on display at the museum.
The museum has introduced two new displays as part of its Indigenous exhibit. The first examines the influence Native American governance had on the development of the United States government. The exhibit explores how founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson studied the principles of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s Great Law of Peace and how those ideas helped shape democratic concepts in early America.
A second display focuses on the bronze Native American busts located inside the historic Vista House. According to the exhibit, local resident Ken Smith has identified the figures as former Columbia River chiefs. Smith, one of the eldest members of the Wasco Tribe, drew upon oral traditions, teachings from his Wasco grandfather, and historical photographs to make the identifications. Smith also serves as a medicine man for the Warm Springs Reservation and is recognized as a historian of his people.
Adding to the museum experience is the contemporary artwork Speaking to Liberty by local artist Joseph Schneider, now displayed on the museum’s front lawn. The large-scale work is scheduled to appear on the plaza of the Lincoln Memorial in September.
Many community members may recognize the piece from its appearance in the 2010 Corbett Fourth of July Parade, where it earned a blue-ribbon award, or from a feature on Oregon Art Beat highlighting Schneider’s work. More information about the artist can be found at Joseph Schneider Art.
The museum will also host a special “Front Porch Sale” on July 4, offering visitors a variety of unique items and collectibles to browse.
The Crown Point Country Museum, located at Crown Point Country Museum, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated.
Museum officials invite residents and visitors alike to stop by and celebrate history while exploring the new exhibits and artwork.
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