
October 30, 1947. Oregonian
75 years ago, a plane crash changed Oregon politics
On October 28, 1947, a small plane crashed in rural southeast Oregon, killing the state's governor and other political leaders.
Latest Stories

Rare photographs, newly digitized, show Oregon life in the early 1900s
The Oregon Historical Society reports that it recently digitized more than 200 historical photographs of the state from the turn of the 20th century.
Before Elvis, there was Johnnie Ray. Meet Oregon’s ‘father of rock & roll’
Oregon musician Johnnie Ray was once arguably the biggest pop star in the world. In the early 1950s, his unique sound, coupled with his emotional performances, thrilled audiences and helped usher in rock and roll.
How a 1934 waterfront strike was a major turning point for West Coast labor
In 1934, West Coast longshoremen fought, fell and ultimately triumphed together despite the odds. It was called the “The Big Strike.”
A look back at how white supremacists sowed seeds of hate in Oregon in the 20th century
One hundred years ago, the Ku Klux Klan arrived in Oregon. Within months, thousands became members as it infiltrated communities and dominated politics.
A century ago, the Ku Klux Klan terrorized Southern Oregon
One hundred years ago, members of notorious hate group the Ku Klux Klan staged a series of so-called "night riding" attacks in Southern Oregon.

REBROADCAST: Woody Guthrie
In the spring of 1941, Woody Guthrie came to Portland for a one-month job. He was hired by the Bonneville Power Administration to write songs extolling the virtues of dams, irrigated land and federally subsidized hydropower. He ended up giving the government 26 songs in 30 days.
Dark myths, and a sometimes darker historical past, haunt Oregon’s waterfronts
Portland's early waterfront has become the center for legendary stories of an illicit past. Some of those stories are even true.

New OPB documentary examines the troubling history of Fairview, Oregon’s primary institution for those with developmental disabilities
OPB's new documentary exposes the complex and often shocking history of one of Oregon’s most notorious institutions — the Fairview Training Center. For many residents, it was the only home they ever knew. For others, it was a living nightmare.

‘In the Shadow of Fairview’
Twenty years ago, the last resident left Fairview Training Center. It closed in 2000 amid lawsuits and investigations. But for nearly 100 years, Fairview was Oregon's primary institution for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For many residents, it was the only home they ever knew. For others, it was a living nightmare.
Oregon’s Moon Country
The next Oregon Experience returns to Central Oregon's Moon Country, where NASA astronauts trained to walk on the moon.