Come
Visit Us!
Take the learning out of the classroom...
...and onto the Oregon Trail!
Explore on your own or
take a Tour. We welcome you.
The Philip Foster Farm was a prominent stopover on the Barlow Road
during the 1840s through the 1860s and today is the only authentic location on the trail to showcase and actively interpret
the original use of the site. The site includes an 1860s barn, an 1883 farmhouse, pioneer store, heirloom flower and vegetable
gardens, an historic apple orchard, and possibly the oldest lilac tree in Oregon.
Exploring the Farm makes learning fun! Plan on spending some
time at this beautiful historic site. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy it at a picnic table under the shade trees just
like the pioneers or the Foster family might have done.
A Tour
of the farm includes:
1883 FOSTER FARM HOUSE: Explore the downstairs parlor, bedroom,
dining area, and kitchen, showcasing vintage furnishings and household items. There are personal belongings, such as family
photos and clothing. Upstairs features more vintage clothing, childrens' toys, an original cradle, and typical 1880s furnishings. The
home has been refurbished back to its 1880s paint colors and in some areas original wallpaper can be seen.
OUTDOOR LAUNDRY AREA: See how 1800s laundry was done. There are
vintage laundry buckets and pails, tubs, and a washer board and ringer. Try your hand at scrubbing!
LOG HOUSE CONSTRUCTION: Kids can try building a miniature log house
with real hand-hewn logs. Don't forget the door and windows!
COVERED WAGON LOADING: Learn first-hand what items to pack and what
to leave behind when embarking on the Oregon Trail. Will you bring china or bedding? A stove or a table? Hands-on decisions
are made while loading a real covered wagon!
CORN GRINDING: Try your hand at grinding corn for meal using vintage
hand-operated grinders.
CROSSCUT SAW: Learn what it takes to saw your own log.
Using a vintage cross-cut saw, it takes two to coordinate!
IRONSMITH: Watch the skilled ironsmith as he makes
square nails and other items on this pioneer-style forge.
STORE: What fun you'll have looking at all the vintage items
stocked in Foster's replica store. Look in the rafters and all over the walls--there's plenty to see and things to purchase
too. How about a stick of old-fashioned candy or an old-time bottle of soda? You'll find books, pioneer-style
toys, local honey, and hand-crafted items too. From the pot-bellied stove to the unique "air-conditioning" window, you're
certain to love the store.
