It seems people either love reading every historical sign they pass or love walking right by them. When I was younger, I didn’t really care much about what a brass sign said about some random field or old building. But as I got older, I have certainly grown to appreciate the history behind these locations, some of which I walk by fairly regularly. Every person, every place, and every thing has some story behind them, and some of them are worth keeping in the public memory. Oregon is filled with places like this, and it’s amazing to learn about the sites that make up our state’s history.
The Ermatinger House is officially considered a historical site and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This estate has a really cool history, but more than that, it opens its doors to families with kids of all ages to come and play.
One of the events hosted by the Ermatinger House is happening this Saturday, 9/26. Starting at 11:00am, they are hosting a day filled with lawn games and tours. Festivities will run through 4:00pm and include a wide range of family-friendly activities. Teaming up with the Stevens-Crawford House, they will have croquet, bocce ball, “safe” lawn darts, a hacky-sack demonstration, and more. Your ticket, which ranges from $10 to $20 and can be purchased here, includes lunch with items such as pinwheel tea sandwiches, fresh fruit skewers, a jumbo cookie, and other deliciousness.
You will also get admission to both houses, plus a guided tour of the Ermatinger House. All ages are welcome, and there is a discount for everyone under 18 and those 62 and older. Children 5 and under get in free, which is always a nice bonus for parents with small kids. All proceeds go to support the Ermatinger House & the Stevens-Crawford House.
If you can’t make it this Saturday, it is still worth taking the family to the Ermatinger House on another day. Their estate has an incredible history and is more than just another boring historic home.
We recommend reserving a time slot for a guided tour. Self-Guided and Guided tours are available every week on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. To reserve a time for a guided tour, you can call or text 971-219-4881 or email ermatinger@orcity.org. Walk-ins are also available for both guided and self-guided tours.
Tickets for families are $9 or $11, depending on residency, and children ages 6 and under are always free.
With school back in session, the Ermatinger House works great for field trips too. Whether it is for a school trip, homeschool outing, book club activity, or other group venture, the Ermatinger House can accommodate your request.
Their Field Trip program aligns with ODE requirements for 4th and 5th graders, and they can provide scheduling options for school groups of up to 90 kids. The cost varies based on grant funding and group size but typically ranges from $5 to $10 per participant. Sites are also available for kids to have lunch, and reserved bus parking is available right outside the heritage sites.
Historic Oregon City is home to the third house ever built in the Oregon Territory and Clackamas County’s oldest house. One of Oregon’s prominent citizens, Francis Ermatinger, a Portuguese native educated in England, built the Ermatinger House and later worked for Hudson’s Bay. Ermatinger arrived in Portland in 1825, made his mark in Oregon retail and government, and built this house in 1843.
Located at 619 6th St, Oregon City, OR 97045, it sits just outside Portland and is easy to reach. A fun fact about this home is that it was originally located along the Willamette River near Willamette Falls but was moved several times before ending up at its current location in Oregon City in 1986.
Oregon has so many of these interesting places, and it’s great that most of them have opened their doors to the general public. The Ermatinger House, hosting a day filled with lawn games and activities this coming Saturday, will be a wonderful way to spend the day with your family. Not to mention, you might catch yourself reading some of the signs while you’re there.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.