Hello from the History Department — If you have visited the McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma, you may have noticed the large acrylic painting featured in the hotel lobby, shown below. Entitled Sonoma Coast, this piece by artist John Rampley is a beloved part of our Tacoma collection, with special thanks to its owner, Ann…

Hello from the History Department — FACT: Did you know that Portland is the only non-winning city listed as champions on hockey’s famous Stanley Cup? Although the Portland Rosebuds did not win the Stanley Cup, the team had the words “Portland Ore./PCHA Champions/1915–16” engraved on the Cup after obtaining the trophy from the previous year’s champions, the Vancouver…

Hello from the History Department. This week, we’re spotlighting our History Pub at the Kennedy School on Monday, August 26. This is a different kind of event for us, because it has nothing to do with Pacific Northwest history. Instead, it focuses on a significant episode in American military history called the Battle of Mogadishu,…

Hello from the History Department. On Tues., August 27, at the Olympic Club, we’re presenting a History Pub about a hometown boy who made the big time. Merce Cunningham, born in Centralia, is considered one of the foremost innovators of modern dance and choreography. He passed just over a decade ago, in late July 2009,…

Hello from the History Department. This week, we delve into the archives for a blog about a remarkable piece of artwork at Cornelius Pass Roadhouse, one that has connections to… Star Wars?? It’s true. **** Made by Beaverton artist Joel Cottet (1948–2002), the sculpture was originally produced as a prototype for filmmaker George Lucas, of Star…

Hello from the History Department. In case you missed it, there was a great article in this week’s Seattle Times about McMenamins Anderson School’s gardens. It’s a great read and a good reminder to slow down and look around when you’re visiting our properties. While Edgefield most often get star billing for its lovely and…

Hello from the History Department. America’s first and oldest fair was held in 1765, in York, Pennsylvania. In comparison, Oregon’s Washington County Fair (held at the fair complex about 7.5 miles from our Grand Lodge) has only been running for 164 years, since 1855. This year’s event takes place on July 25-28, in Hillsboro, OR.…

Who here has heard of Woodstock? … OK, good. But just in case, a quick review: Woodstock was a music festival held at a dairy farm in upstate New York from August 15-18, 1969. The gathering attracted an audience of more than 400,000 people and is “widely considered to be the definitive nexus for the larger counterculture generation.”

Think you’re a McMenamins history buff? Identify the five properties associated with these images. Property #1 Property #2 Property #3 Property #4 Property #5                                   Property #1 Anderson School (Bothell, WA) – While this image wasn’t taken at the…

Hello from the History Department. Full disclosure: This is a reboot from an eBlast about the White Eagle originally published in 2013 – but it still holds true because history. Whether or not ghosts roam the hallways is undocumented; who’s to say if there are or aren’t spirits who remain in residence? (I say yes.)…