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Thompson’s Mills State Heritage Site is a state park near Shedd in Linn County, Oregon, United States, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The mill was first built in 1858. It burned down in 1862, but was rebuilt right away and those 12 inch by 12 inch hand hewn beams cut and placed while Lincoln was in office are still visible inside the mill today . A series of dedicated and tenacious owners adapted the mill to changing times turning the flour mill to a feed mill and eventually a hydroelectric plant operating until 2004, making it one of Oregon's oldest continuously operating water-powered businesses. Oregon State Parks purchased the property in 2004 and the park was opened to the public in December, 2007. The property was acquired and restored under governor Kulongoski's "park-a-year" plan, in which one new state park is to be opened every year. Free guided tours are offered daily allowing visitors to see the water powered turbines and machinery in action. The grounds are being restored to the 1910-1930's era with the heirloom orchard, gardens and plantings restored as well as heritage poultry roaming the grounds and original fence lines and paths; all will be open to the public when complete.
You won't find this site unless you do some research beforehand- you won't see any signage off the interstate, and you wouldn't even know it exists unless you goof off on Google Maps like I do.... Read more
Great place to visit. Extremely interesting stories of the mill. Take the guided tour and stop by the gift shop. We had an amazing visit when family came down. Read more
This place is very cool. The volunteer guide, Elaine was very informative and very enthusiastic. She peppered her historical narrative and explanation of the equipment with a lot of stories from... Read more
Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
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