For years, Black history has existed largely in the margins of local stories. Now, that presence is coming to the forefront through the Corvallis Museum’s Black History in Benton County tour.
“Our job as the Benton County Historical Society is to tell the stories of the people of Benton County, and for a long time, there wasn’t a lot of attention paid to the Black people who have lived here over the centuries,” said Anya Ballinger, curator of education at the Corvallis Museum. “However, Black people have lived here since Benton County became a county.”
Ballinger partnered with Oregon Black Pioneers and the Linn-Benton National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to develop the forty-five minute guided tour, which walks visitors through the museum while highlighting the lives and contributions of Black pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail, settled in the area and helped shape local communities…