The Linn County Historical Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11-4. Moyer House Tours available on Saturdays, 12-3. Tickets available at the Museum at 101 Park Avenue, Brownsville.
Linn County Historical Museum
Welcome to the Linn County Historical Museum, whose previous name was the Brownsville Pioneer Museum. We are so glad you are here.
Founded in 1962, the museum is housed in Brownsville’s original railroad depot along with six Southern Pacific railcars. Our exhibits explore the history, cultures, and daily lives of the region’s native people, Oregon Trail emigrants, black and white pioneer settlers, and the early families of Linn County. Visitors will also find engaging displays on the Brownsville Woolen Mill, regional mining, and the filming of Stand By Me. One of our boxcars even features a 29-seat theater, The Boxcar Theatre.
We also maintain an extensive and well-used Genealogy Section. A highlight of the collection is the original covered wagon that carried the Drinkard family across the Oregon Trail in 1865. Just a short walk away, don’t miss the elegant 1881 Moyer House, open for tours on Saturdays and by appointment.
We look forward to welcoming you—come visit and experience the history of Linn County firsthand!
Historic 1881 Moyer House
The Historic 1881 Moyer House is part of the Linn County Historical Museum and is located just a block and a half south of the main museum in Brownsville, Oregon.
Built in 1881 as the home of John Moyer and Elizabeth Moyer, the house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This beautifully preserved home is an outstanding example of Italianate Architecture, featuring extensive decorative painting and stenciling throughout its rooms.
Over the years, the home has been carefully restored by the Linn County Museum Friends. Today, it welcomes school groups, history enthusiasts, senior organizations, and visitors interested in experiencing a unique piece of Oregon's past.
Tours
- Volunteer-led tours are available on Saturdays between 12 and 3 pm starting on the hour. Please come to the Linn County Historical Museum at 101 Park Ave. Brownsville for tickets.
- As our tours depend on volunteer availability, visitors are encouraged to call ahead before visiting. Weekday tours may be arranged by calling the museum.
Admission
- Adults: $5.00
- Children under 12: $1.00
Contact
Museum Phone: 541-466-3390
The Drinkard wagon is one of the museum’s treasures…one of a very few remaining wagons still intact after making the rigorous six month journey across the Oregon Trail. This wagon brought the Drinkard Family from Missouri to Halsey, Oregon in 1865. Seeing this rugged wagon brings home the reality of the immense challenges early Euro-Americans actually faced during the great Westward Migration. William Drinkard was a Confederate soldier imprisoned in Iowa when his wife Martha Ann learned he could be released on promise of leaving the war effort behind. Martha Ann sold their home and goods, purchased and outfitted this wagon, packed up the 4 kids and left Missouri for Iowa. Accompanied by several other family members they then headed West. Martha Ann drove this wagon, William drove his Mother’s wagon and the children walked or rode horses. They arrived in Oregon in the Fall of 1865, before Martha Ann gave birth to her 5th child in February, 1866.
A truly unique feature of this museum is our Boxcar Theatre. Housed in one of our 6 boxcars, the theater is equipped with 29 seats salvaged from Brownsville’s old Linn Theatre, along with the original neon sign. The theater is available for movie watching whenever the museum is open. We have a large selection of movies; comedy, drama, westerns, Disney, documentaries, old and new. Of course we also have the most famous movie filmed here in Brownsville…1986’s “Stand By Me”. This is a perfect place for Birthday parties, school visits, family gatherings, rainy afternoons, or just to while away a little time. Come in and let us entertain you!
Entertainment:
Baby Take a Bow, Shirley Temple
The Blue Bird, Shirley Temple
Curly Top, Shirley Temple
The Littlest Rebel, Shirley Temple
Heidi, Shirley Temple
Heidi, Maxmillian Schell
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Shirley Temple
The Shaggy Dog, Disney
Alice in Wonderland, Disney
So Dear to My Heart, Disney
Mouse Hunt, Dreamworks
Snow White, Disney
Sound of Music
Annie, Carol Burnett
Wizard of Oz
Kid Millions
Mouse on the Mayflower
Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
Stand By Me
Following the Tracks of Stand By Me (Documentary)
Be Big, Laurel & Hardy
Brats, Laurel & Hardy
Hog Wild, Laurel & Hardy
Red Skelton Show, 6 skits
Horse Feathers, Marx Brothers
Tillie's Punctured Romance, Charlie Chaplin
Dark Passage, Bogart & Bacall
Miracle on 34th Street
War of the Worlds
Great American Western Classics Arizona Gunfighter
Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap Abbott & Costello
Young Buffalo Bill Roy Rogers
The Marauders Hopalong Cassidy
Dracula Bela Lugosi 1931
Frankenstein Boris Karloff
Disney Cinderella
Disney Beauty & the Beast
Disney Lady & the Tramp
Disney 101 Dalmations
Disney Lion King
Disney Mary Poppins
An American in Paris
Out of Africa
Documentaries:
Donner Party, PBS 90 min
Growing Flax Fiber in the Willamette Valley OSU Crop Science 21 min
The Klondike Gold Rush PBS 60 min
Lewis & Clark Great Journey West Nat'l Geographic 40 min
The Historic Expedition of Lewis & Clark 35 min
Ride the Albany Carousel 57 min
Road to Statehood OPB 30 min
Capturing Oregon's Frontier 29 min
Free Emigrant Road
Lost Wagon Train 18 min
Oregon's Historic Covered Bridges 28 min
ExplOregon: Brownsville OPB 28 min
Looking back at Linn County 20 min
The Oregon Trail 120 min
Pioneer Life for Children, Westward Expansion, 23 min
Pioneer Life for Children, Pioneer Journey Westward, 23 min
Pioneer Life for Children, Pioneer Life, 23 min
Historic Brownsville, Then & Now & Take Me Back
The Great Flood of '96
Stand By Me Day – July 25, 2026
Join us as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the release of Stand By Me with a full day of family fun, nostalgia, music, and community in the town that helped bring this beloved classic to life!
The celebration begins with a delicious Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, followed by a day packed with activities including:
- Classic and vintage car displays
- A replica of the iconic treehouse
- Live performances by local bands
- Blueberry pie and ice cream
- Guided walking tours highlighting filming locations
- A special Fan Forum featuring interviews with cast and crew who attend
- The World’s Best Blueberry Pie Eating Contest
- A 1950s-themed Sock Hop
The festivities conclude in beautiful Pioneer Park with a special outdoor screening of Stand By Me under the stars.
Whether you're a longtime fan of the movie, a lover of small-town Americana, or simply looking for a memorable summer event, Stand By Me Day promises something for everyone.
Come celebrate 40 years of friendship, adventure, and one of America's most cherished coming-of-age films!
Thank you to all the wonderful people who showed up to Hands on History 2024!
Look for another great event in 2025 on Saturday, August 23rd.
Step back in time and try your hand at the crafts and activities practiced by the folks who lived here long ago.
Be a part of this wonderful free event and go home with lasting memories.
Enjoy these scenes from HoH 2024
Carriage Me Back will be taking you to 1909 this year
Thank You to all who joined us in spite of the miserable weather, and Thank You to all the wonderful presenters who did an excellent job telling the stories of 1894
This year you will board a horse drawn carriage and tour the town as local thespians tell the story of 1909 in the town, the state, the country, the world. Enjoy the carriage ride around town while being entertained by skits based on history and flavored with artistic license before being dropped at the Moyer House for more entertainment.
We will be taking reservations starting April 1. The price is 15.00 for 12 and up, under 12 is $5.00 and you can rent a whole wagon for $225.00 (holds 20 people) For reservations call 541-466-3390. We accept cash, check or credit card.
We have fun activities for kids of all ages! We welcome you to dress up like a pioneer, play on our antique typewriter, and build with Lincoln Logs. You can also pack and unpack a miniature covered wagon and pretend you are setting off on the Oregon Trail.
We have a great selection of local history books, old-fashioned toys and candy, Museum logo shirts and sweatshirts, and Stand By Me merchandise. We also have locally crafted goods, patches, pouches, mugs, and magnets!
Do you want to support the Linn County Historical Museum? Consider becoming a LCHM Friends member! The Friends volunteer time and funds to keep the Museum and the Moyer house open, conduct educational tours, sponsor special events, operate the Gift Shop, maintain the genealogy library, and furnish many supplies for exhibits, operations, and conservation of artifacts.
Members receive a 10% discount at the Gift Shop, a subscription to our newsletter "Museum Notes" and invitations to special events.
We are a 501(C)3 organizations #93-0826808. Your donation is tax deductible.
The following categories of membership are available:
- Individual: $25.00
- Family: $40.00
- Patron: $100.00