Museum History

The Oregon Jewish Museum was founded in 1989 by a volunteer group, committed to providing Oregon with a museum dedicated to Jewish art and history, During the five first years, our focus was to build a membership, create a strong Board of Directors and bring traveling exhibits of Jewish content to this area.

In 1996, OJM merged with the Jewish Historical Society of Oregon. The extensive archive collection of the Historical Society, documenting Jewish life in Oregon for 150 years, is now part of OJM's permanent collection. Researchers, astonished by its depth and uniqueness, have access to this collection that had been locked away in storage for years.

Also in 1996, after years of being a "Museum without Walls," bringing exhibits to many different venues in the Portland area, OJM began to raise money to hire a part-time professional and secure a permanent home for the museum. In July 1998, the first director took charge. At the same time, the museum moved into a donated office suite at Montgomery Park in northwest Portland. Seven exhibits, a variety of special programs, a poetry reading, Art and Artifact, OJM's quarterly newsletter, the first full-color exhibition catalogue, forums on Jewish genealogy, and Sunday Family Days have resulted in significant growth in membership, new audiences and increased visibility in the community, establishing the museum as a recognized and important part of Portland's cultural landscape.

When OJM's non-renewable occupancy at Montgomery Park ended in October, 2000, the museum moved to a small, storefront location in the heart of Portlandís OldTown. Our first exhibit, "Faces and Places of Old South Portland" opened in January 2001. The museum continues to offer innovative and challenging exhibitions and programs. We welcome adult and student groups.