Trip Report

Thirty-four Obsidians and five guests visited the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville and the Jensen Arctic Museum in Monmouth on August 9. Highlight of the Evergreen Museum is the Howard Hughes Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever built, weighing in at 400,000 lbs. (fuel loaded); it has eight 28-cylinder, 3000-hp engines, is 218 ft. long and has a wing span of 320 ft. (just over 50% longer than a Boeing 747). The museum also houses 22 other aircraft; most are military aircraft including one from WWI and a number from WWII. More are displayed adjacent to the museum, which only opened this past June. The building encloses 3.5 acres and so far $21 million has been spent on the Spruce Goose restoration and the building; another $8 million expenditure is planned. If you like airplanes and history this is a great place to visit. Admission fees are $9 adults, $7 seniors and $5 students. The Jensen Arctic Museum is a good contrast to the Evergreen Museum. It is considerably smaller and is the only museum on the West Coast devoted solely to collecting, preserving and teaching about Arctic culture and ecology. Exhibits show indigenous information on the Arctic People, crafts, tools, transportation, clothing, hunting and foodstuffs. The rooms include a diorama of an Arctic setting and many regional animals. Dr. Paul Jensen spent many years developing and conducting educational programs for Alaska Natives. There is a suggested $2 entrance donation.

Riders were Ethel Allen, Mabel Armstrong, Ewart Baldwin, Ingrid Carmichael, Kent Cristoferson, Chapin & Dorothy Clark, Doral & Rose Etter, Margaret Fea, Dora Harris, Evelyn Hile, Dick & Phyllis Hulse, Ray Jensen, Pat Jeffries, Helen Knowlton, Mary Lemons, Marie Loome, John & Lenore McManigal, Barbara & Walt Miller, June Moody, Lois Nelson, Frances Newsom, LaVonne & Georgia Petersen, Virginia Prouty, Andrew Ray, Liz Reanier, Bobbye Sorrels, Dick & Janet Speelman, Peggy Surites, Millard Thomas, Louise Thurber and co-leaders Mary Lee Cheadle and Ben Jeffries.