School’s out, now what?

Antique Powerland Museum’s 40th Great Oregon Steam-Up…. that’s what!

Back in the “good old days” when school got out for the summer, parents would plan how to entertain their children for the next ten weeks. There was the annual camping vacation and that consumed one or two of those weeks. Many families are still going camping today but are always looking for new things to do. Well, here’s a wonderful opportunity for a family outing that everyone will enjoy: The 40th Annual Great Oregon Steam-Up at Antique Powerland Museum in Brooks, Oregon. Steam-Up is a fun, wholesome event which takes place this year July 24 & 25 and July 31 & August 1.

Antique Powerland Museum began as a site for operating, displaying and interpreting historic farm machinery. It has grown into a 62-acre campus of many heritage power museums. The entire facility is maintained and operated by a dedicated corps of volunteers. What makes Antique Powerland unique is the variety of museums and Steam-Up is their big annual event when everything is operating. Here you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of those early days in Oregon.

Enjoy homemade ice cream while watching it being made with the power of a steam engine. See how lumber is cut from logs in a real steam sawmill. Ride on miniature trains pulled by steam, diesel or coal powered locomotives or ride on a historic vintage trolley. See wheat being threshed using a steam tractor. Visit the truck museum and see 75 fully restored trucks dating from the early 1900s including the first truck Fred Meyer used to make his grocery deliveries. In the large engine museum see the very first engine that produced the power to light Timberline Lodge when it was first built. See electricity generators that were actually made in Thomas Edison’s shop! See the only Caterpillar museum in the world!

You’ll see all types of vehicles with wheels or tracks including vintage steam, oil fired, diesel and gas operated tractors, vintage trucks, cars and motorcycles of all types, caterpillars and fire engines. Other activities include lumberjack competition and logging exhibits, steam fire apparatus demonstrations, small engines operating and showing how they were used on farms before electricity was available, and large stationary engines producing the largest smoke rings you have ever seen.

Visit the Car Museum’s 1930s replica of a Texaco service station and their display of antique cars and motorcycles. Learn about local history from the Brooks Historical Society, housed in the original Brooks Railroad Depot. There’s also a blacksmith shop and flour milling in the country store.

The Youth Passport offers kids a learning experience as they tour the many museums and upon completion they have an opportunity to win a grand prize at the end of each day. Younger kids can enter the kids pedal tractor pull competition and those with lots of burning energy can do the fireman’s muster. Shoppers will find lots of vintage collectibles at the huge swap meet and flea market. And when you want to relax, sit in the free music tent and be entertained by the bluegrass band.

Gates are open from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Admission is free for kids 12 and under. Parking is free and there is free transportation around the grounds aboard the “people movers.” Church services are available at 8:00am on both Sundays. The many food booths located throughout the facility offer a variety of good food for breakfast and lunch.

The Great Oregon Steam-Up has been called “the best kept secret in Oregon” and now you know why. From grandparents to grandkids there’s lots of fun for everyone. Antique Powerland plans to make this the best Steam-Up ever! For more information go to www.antiquepowerland.com or call 503-393-2424.