OTE - Oregon Travel Experience

Many thanks to everyone who joined the dedication of the Vanport Cottonwoods on May 29. Dave Hedberg and our speakers shared the history of this area from time immemorial, their experiences during the 1948 flood, the memories their parents shared of Vanport, and an understanding of how aerial photos led to identifying these trees which likely witnessed the 1948 flood.

Vanport was among the largest wartime housing projects in the United …

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Our heritage programs had another eventful year! We’re celebrating 30 years of the Oregon Heritage Tree Program, reflecting on the Hood River community who came together to repair past harms and sponsor the state’s newest historical marker, and looking forward to dedicating Oregon’s 86th Heritage Tree this spring. Read all about it in our 2026 newsletter!

2026 Deep RootsDownload

On November 8, 1995, a group of tree lovers gathered for the founding meeting of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee. They came together to create a program that combined the majesty of Oregon’s trees with the history they witnessed over hundreds of years. The group crafted the program from scratch, discussing goals, formalizing criteria, and creating a brochure. In June of 1996 the first program guidelines were drafted, and by …

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TIC Councilors and Oregon Historical Marker Committee Members stand with new marker.

On Veterans Day 2025, TIC joined with the Hood River community to dedicate a new historical marker on Highway 35, one mile south of Hood River.

Highway 35 from Hood River to Government Camp was dedicated as the Oregon Nisei Veterans WWII Memorial Highway by Governor Brown on March 7, 2022. The highway commemorates the second-generation Japanese American …

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Oregon’s 81st heritage tree was recently featured on KPTV’s countdown to America’s 250th anniversary.

The PSU Copper Beech has witnessed more than 100 years of urban development and is a living link to Oregon’s past. Listen to Oregon Heritage Tree Committee Chair Dave Hedberg share more:

The Travel Information Council and agency staff bid a very fond farewell to Councilor Garcia. Yesterday, June 9, was his last quarterly meeting with TIC as he comes to the end of his second four year term with the Council. Executive Director Lynde presented him with a small token of the agency’s appreciation for his work with TIC. Thank you for everything!

TIC had an amazing Bring Your Kid to Work Day.

We took our kids out of Salem Administration office up the road to the Southbound French Prairie Rest Area. The Heritage Tree Grove of the States was in need of it yearly maintenance. The kids, TIC Administration, and Rest Area staff were able to clean up and lay fresh bark dust in tree rings and around all of the signs. …

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Our heritage programs had another eventful year! Three historical markers were updated and replaced, four heritage tree awards were presented to Oregonians doing great work across our state, and we improved our maps to make visiting Oregon’s heritage trees and historical markers a bit easier.

We look forward to dedicating Oregon’s 85th Heritage Tree this fall. Read all about it in our 2025 newsletter!

2025 Deep RootsDownload

TIC is pleased to announce that McGregor “Mac” Lynde will serve as the agency’s next Executive Director, beginning on Monday, November 18, 2024. The council agreed by unanimous vote to offer Lynde the appointment at its public meeting on Wednesday, October 23. Currently serving as Special Advisor to the Director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Lynde brings to the Travel Information Council twenty-two years of experience with the …

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The Travel Information Council is hiring for multiple positions, in multiple locations around the state of Oregon. Are you seeking an opportunity to shape the quality and features of Oregon’s Highway Rest Areas to tangibly improve the experience for the millions of travelers who use them each year?

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Everything is coming up roses at French Prairie Rest Area.