There’s a lot to enjoy during National Preservation Month

History buffs will enjoy several treats in May during National Preservation Month, with a host of events planned to celebrate Albany history and the efforts to keep and maintain our historic treasures.

MAY 1 THROUGH MAY 31, 2022

Hidden History Scavenger Hunt Keep a sharp eye out as you tour Albany’s Historic Downtown and spot the wonderful details on this list of architectural elements. Pick up an entry form at the Albany Downtown Association or at The Natty Dresser, 124 Broadalbin St. SW. Download form HERE

Downtown Scavenger Hunt The Albany Downtown Association invites families to stroll downtown and peek in store windows on a hunt to find mini-posters featuring items from days gone by. Learn a little about how things used to be and enter your findings on the entry form.

Albany Farmers’ Market is the oldest outdoor farmers’ market in Oregon. Open every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Purchase hand-picked produce, fresh flowers, baked bread, local eggs, meats and more. The market is located at 4th and Ellsworth in the City Hall parking lot.  For more about what the market has to offer, including online pre-visit order forms to make your visit even safer, be sure to check their website at LocallyGrown.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 6

1^st Friday

For participating businesses with in-store specials and entertainment visit our Events Calendar

Albany Downtown Wine Walk

Sample some of the best wines our region has to offer with 20+ wineries at 20+ locations throughout Historic Downtown Albany. Advance tickets will be on sale (cash & check only) at the AVA office, 110 3rd Ave. SE through Thursday, May 5.

SATURDAY, MAY 7

The Monteith House is currently open from 12 – 4 pm on Saturdays. If you would like to come by another day or time, please contact them at info@monteithhouse.org or 541-220-0421 for an appointment.

TUESDAY, MAY 10

1^st Avenue History Tour Meet at Burkhart Square, at the corner of 1^st Ave. and Lyon Street, at 6 p.m. and take an informative tour of 1^st Avenue. Sponsored by The Natty Dresser.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

History Bites: Albany’s Historic Airport  from noon to 1 p.m. at the Albany Regional Museum

136 S Lyon St.

2nd Avenue History Tour Meet at Burkhart Square, at the corner of 1^st Ave. and Lyon Street, next to the Lyon Street Bridge at 6 p.m. and enjoy stories about the history of 2^nd Avenue in Historic Downtown Albany. Sponsored by The Natty Dresser.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

The Monteith House is currently open from 12 – 4 pm on Saturdays. If you would like to come by another day or time, please contact them at info@monteithhouse.org or 541-220-0421 for an appointment.

Albany Tweed Ride Cruise along on bikes and look great doing it on Albany’s annual Tweed Ride. Participants don their finest tweed attire (or any period clothing) and take a bicycle tour of Albany’s historic districts. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. and is hosted by The Natty Dresser, 124 Broadalbin St. SW, a full-service menswear shop in the heart of Historic Downtown Albany. The tour will be stopping on occasion to talk about historic buildings and sights along the way. The ride begins at The Natty Dresser and ends at the Deluxe Brewery, where the pub will be hosting its annual Vintage Bicycle Show and Swap Meet (see the next entry). Food and drink will be available for purchase at the brewery. You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch on the ride, as the brewery allows outside food. Bring a cup if it looks like it is going to be a warm day for wearing tweed; there will be a water break along the way.

Vintage Bicycle Show & Swap Meet  Enjoy more than 75 vintage bicycles from 1 to 5 p.m. at this annual event, sponsored by the Deluxe Brewing Company, 635 Water Ave NE. Admission is free and socially distancing rules will apply. Most of the bike show will be outside.

Cumberland Birthday Celebration Join the Cumberland Community Events Center for music, birthday cake and a little bit of history at 1400 Santiam Rd. SE. 12 – 2 p.m.

Albany Streetcar Hub City Tour The Albany Regional Museum presents the Albany Streetcar Hub City History Tour, Saturday, May 14, at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Pre-registration is needed for the tour by May 7. Tour guests will hop aboard the Albany Streetcar at the Museum 136 Lyon St S, for a narrated tour by Bill Maddy, Albany Regional Museum docent and Albany historian. For many years Albany has been known as Hub City. The tour will feature the history of how Albany became the Hub City of the Willamette Valley with the arrival of river, rail and highway travel.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

Eminent Oregonians: Three Who Matter is a presentation by three well-known Oregon authors about three eminent Oregonians who were often at odds with their moments in history. Acclaimed journalist R. Gregory Nokes gives us the abolitionist Jesse Applegate. Renowned author Jane Kirkpatrick gives us the life of the suffragist, newspaper publisher and novelist Abigail Scott Duniway; and Oregon columnist and publisher Steve Forrester gives us Richard Neuberger, whose election to the U.S. Senate changed Oregon and national politics. Based largely on primary sources, these authors present compelling, three-dimensional views of adventurous, consequential and sometimes heart-breaking lives. This presentation is sponsored by the Linn County Historical Society and is free to the public. 2 p.m. at Lakeside Center, Mennonite Village, 2180 54th Ave SE.

MONDAY, MAY 16

S.E. Young Building Tours 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. RSVP request by calling 541-248-3561. Meet at the Broadalbin Street entrance to The Natty Dresser, 124 Broadalbin St. SW, five minutes prior to the tour.

FRIDAY, MAY 20

Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair The oldest fair of its kind in Oregon includes sheep shows, fiber arts, crafts and Northwest Champion Sheep Dog Trials. The event is held at the Scio Fairgrounds, 38764 N Ash St, Scio, OR. lambfair.com 

SATURDAY, MAY 21

Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair The oldest fair of its kind in Oregon includes sheep shows, fiber arts, crafts and Northwest Champion Sheep Dog Trials. The event is held at the Scio Fairgrounds, 38764 N Ash St, Scio, OR. lambfair.com 

The Monteith House is currently open from 12 – 4 pm on Saturdays. If you would like to come by another day or time, please contact them at info@monteithhouse.org or 541-220-0421 for an appointment.

Cumberland Birthday Celebration Join the Cumberland Community Events Center for music, birthday cake and a little bit of history at 1400 Santiam Rd. SE. 12 – 2 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

Linn County Lamb and Wool Fair The oldest fair of its kind in Oregon includes sheep shows, fiber arts, crafts and Northwest Champion Sheep Dog Trials. The event is held at the Scio Fairgrounds, 38764 N Ash St, Scio, OR. lambfair.com. 

THURSDAY, MAY 26

Join the Friends of Historic Albany for an architectural walking tour of the Monteith Historic District. Meet at 5th Ave SW & Elm at 6 p.m. The walk will take about an hour.  

SATURDAY, MAY 28

The Monteith House is currently open from 12 – 4 pm on Saturdays. If you would like to come by another day or time, please contact them at info@monteithhouse.org or 541-220-0421 for an appointment.

SUNDAY, MAY 29

Albany Masonic Cemetery Tour is a self-guided walking tour of notables buried at 700 Broadway St., SW.  Fifty yellow placards throughout the five acres recount the lives of a cross-section of Albany’s citizens including Samuel Althouse (1825-1886), one of Albany’s earliest settlers and Carol (Dirrett) Davis (1919-2014), director of the American Red Cross during the 1964 floods and the Vietnam War. Albany Masonic Cemetery, 700 SW Broadway St.

MONDAY, MAY 30

Albany Masonic Cemetery Tour is a self-guided walking tour of notables buried at 700 Broadway St., SW.  Fifty yellow placards throughout the five acres recount the lives of a cross-section of Albany’s citizens including Samuel Althouse (1825-1886), one of Albany’s earliest settlers and Carol (Dirrett) Davis (1919-2014), director of the American Red Cross during the 1964 floods and the Vietnam War. Albany Masonic Cemetery, 700 SW Broadway St.

YEAR-AROUND OPPORTUNITIES

We will be updating this post regularly throughout Historic Preservation Month, so check back frequently for new activities. Other ideas for you include:

• Albany Explorer App Download a tour and use your car or bike to travel the various routes from “Seems Like Old Times.”

• Stop by the new Fire Station 11 and get peek at the 1927 American LaFrance fire engine and other items of interest on display in the lobby. The station is at 611 Lyon St. SE.
• Albany’s Historic Carousel & Museum Take a ride on one of the whimsical critters that grace the historic 1909 Dentzel mechanism, tour the new museum or catch one of the carvers creating yet another masterpiece. Don’t forget to check out the gift shop, then have a treat at the snack bar for the road. Operating hours are TBA depending on Covid restrictions.
• Get an up-close look at some of Albany’s past through interesting exhibits at the Albany Regional Museum. Visit the ARM website for current operating hours.
• Mark your calendar for Albany’s two historic homes tours, the Summer Historic Home Tour on July 30 and the Christmas Tour on Dec. 11. Check our event calendar for updates.