Discover Jacksonville: History, Culture and Trails

Jacksonville combines the history of a historic trading and mining community with cultural experiences and extensive trails. Those looking for a mix of architecture, music history and nature during their stay can bring different interests together in one travel itinerary here.

Historic Jacksonville and Special Buildings

The Jacksonville Historic District is considered Oregon’s most extensive and complete example of a late-19th-century inland trading and mining community. In 1966, Jacksonville was recognized as one of the first officially designated National Historic Landmarks in the United States. This classification makes the town particularly interesting for travelers who would like to explore the development of small American communities and their architecture.

One specific example is the Beekman House Museum. The 1½-story Gothic Revival-style house was built between 1870 and 1876. Special 30-minute tours provide insights into the Beekman family’s lifestyle, the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, and innovations in Victorian architecture and design. Costumed guides focus on topics based on guests’ interests. This offers an engaging way to learn about historical topics not only through buildings, but also through everyday life and design.

Gardens, Trails and the History of the Britt Family

The Jacksonville Woodlands feature more than 16 miles of trails. This scale is an important reference point for planning your day if you would like to spend time outdoors in addition to exploring the historical sites. The trails can be treated as a focus of the trip in their own right, while museums and historic sites offer a different kind of activity.

The former home of Peter Britt, located on 1st Street, now houses the Britt Festival grounds, Britt Gardens and a trailhead for the Jacksonville Woodlands. The Peter Britt Gardens were added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 6, 2020. This brings together garden, music and landscape themes in one place, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one type of experience.

Cemetery Tours and a Living Culture

Jacksonville Historic Cemetery is one of the oldest pioneer cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest and has been in continuous use since its founding. The Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery offer tours, evening walks and workshops. They also hold the annual “Meet the Pioneers” event. For visitors interested in personal stories and the region’s early development, these activities provide a different way to approach local history than a museum visit.

Music history is also part of Jacksonville. The Britt Music Festival opened on August 11, 1963, in Jacksonville, Oregon. From a two-week classical season, it developed into a four-month program featuring jazz, pop, rock, bluegrass, folk, dance and musical theater. At its opening, it was the only outdoor summer music festival in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1985, the Britt Institute has offered music education programs for music lovers of all ages and with varying levels of knowledge.

Which Accommodation Fits Your Travel Plans?

A vacation rental in Jacksonville can be a suitable base if you would like to divide your stay flexibly between culture and nature. Before booking, decide whether you want to combine several interests in one itinerary or deliberately dedicate individual days to a particular focus. This allows you to choose the location of your accommodation based on your preferred daily schedule and avoid making your entire trip dependent on just one activity.

For more travel ideas, you can also visit the pages for Medford, White City, Talent, Phoenix, Shady Cove, Rogue River, Ashland and Central Point.

To the broader travel overview: Jackson.