Jacksonville offers a range of highlights for your trip: local history, architecture, music, and outdoor trails. If you’re looking for a hotel in Jacksonville, you can start by considering what you want to shape your stay. The places and offerings below provide some concrete points of reference.
Historic Jacksonville in a Broader Context
The Jacksonville Historic District is Oregon’s most extensive and complete example of a late-19th-century inland trading and mining community. The community as a whole is at its heart: inland trade and mining together form part of its historic character. Jacksonville was recognized in 1966 as one of the first officially designated National Historic Landmarks in the United States. These two facts emphasize different aspects: the district represents a 19th-century community, while the designation reflects Jacksonville’s early recognition at the national level.
Architecture, Gardens, and the Beekman House
The Beekman House Museum is a 1½-story Gothic Revival house built between 1870 and 1876. Special 30-minute tours of the Beekman House offer insight into the Beekman family’s lifestyle, the changes brought about by the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, and innovations in Victorian architecture and design. Costumed guides tailor their focus to guests’ interests. The tour thus connects a specific building with family history and changes in architecture and design.
The Peter Britt Gardens are also part of Jacksonville’s historic landscape: they were added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 6, 2020. Peter Britt’s former home on 1st Street now houses the Britt Festival facilities, the Britt Gardens, and a Jacksonville Woodlands trailhead. These details give you separate points of reference for planning a visit to the gardens and the former home.
Trails and Cemetery History
The Jacksonville Woodlands have more than 16 miles of trails. This trail network offers a different focus from the historic buildings and gardens: instead of architecture and local history, the emphasis is on the outdoors. When planning your day, you can therefore consider whether to set aside time for a guided tour or make room for the trail network.
The Jacksonville Historic Cemetery is one of the oldest pioneer cemeteries in the Pacific Northwest and has been in continuous use since its founding. Visitors can join the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery for tours, evening walks, and workshops. The Friends also hold an annual “Meet the Pioneers” event. Dates for these activities and the event may vary, so check them before your trip if you’re planning to attend.
The Musical History of the Britt Music Festival
The Britt Music Festival opened in Jacksonville on August 11, 1963. At its opening, it was the only outdoor summer music festival in the Pacific Northwest. Over time, it grew from a two-week classical season into a four-month program featuring jazz, pop, rock, bluegrass, folk, dance, and musical theater. This development shows the historical shift from a season initially focused on classical music to a program spanning a range of musical and theatrical forms.
Education is another part of the music offering: since 1985, the Britt Institute has provided music education programs for music lovers of all ages and with varying levels of experience. Alongside the festival’s history, this creates a cultural focus that encompasses both the program’s development and access to music education.
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