Historical Research Associates, Inc

Pilot Rock looks stunning under a blanket of fresh snow at Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The Oregon monument is situated at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath and Siskiyou Mountain ranges and encompasses an outstanding ecological wonderland.

This Bureau of Land Management-managed monument is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers year-round. The Buck Prairie Nordic Trail System offers 32.8 miles of connected trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Snow tubers and sledders will find additional adventures at the sled hill located in the Table Mountain Winter Play Area.

Photo by Kyle Sullivan / BLM Oregon & Washington

Good morning from Coronado Historic Site at Kuaua Pueblo! One topic we like to discuss with our visitors is that of pre-contact trade. Many of the items found by archaeologists here at Kuaua, and at other nearby sites, were not locally sourced. In that case, where did they come from?

Although not all-encompassing, the attached map (showing most of the modern state of New Mexico) highlights some of the sources of major goods that made their way into and out of Kuaua. Even within the Pueblo World, things like obsidian, turquoise, salt, and bison hides would have been much more accessible to pueblos near the Jemez Mountains, Cerrillos Hills, Estancia Basin, and Great Plains, respectively. Pueblos in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, like Kuaua, had a favorable location and climate for agriculture which allowed them to grow surplus crops and dedicate time to producing high-quality pottery that they could then trade. Other items, like shells and macaws, were collected by far-away communities and transported over long distances. Exchanges like these speak to the vast trade networks that have existed across the Americas over centuries of human history.

HRA manages the Oregon State Capitol Foundation’s project. The project began in 2002 to record the perspectives of influential , including governors, statewide elected officials, legislators, and others who have contributed to state government. HRA took over management of the project in 2023. HRA staff coordinate and schedule the interviews, as well as research and interview each subject. All oral histories are video recorded. HRA also produces short films for the project. Learn more here: https://hrassoc.com/project/oregon-state-capitol-foundation-oral-history-project/