Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society

150th annivesary of the Homestead Act of 1862

2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the homestead act, one of the most significant events of United States history. The National Park Service has planned many events in honor of the anniversary and is also looking for descendants of the original homesteaders in 30 states. To learn more about the events and activities planned and to list your name as a descendant, please go to the link below and read more about this historical celebration.

http://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm

We are now on Facebook!!!

CGGS has now joined the Facebook community. Come and visit us there too.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbia-Gorge-Genealogical-Society/346868675329534?sk=wall

Genealogy Humor-Are you a genealogy addict?

Are you a genealogy addict? JUST SAY KNOW

From origin hunters blog site, in depth symptoms to see if you are an addict and coming to terms with your addiction.

http://originhunters.blogspot.com/2011/12/genealogy-addiction-just-say-know.html

Happy New Year! Resolutions and our first program............

Its time to make our genealogical resolutions. Who and what brick wall am I going to break this year? Thinking about doing a self published book on the family? How about a road trip to the cemeteries and areas for which your ancestors lived. Now is the time to plan.

The program on Jan. 14 is called ‚Genealogy Jar‛. New program chair Sandy will have grabbed random genealogical related thoughts as they have flitted through her mind since our last meeting and written them on slips of paper. She will bring them to the meeting in a jar, out of which each of us will have a chance to draw a slip. The drawee will have one minute to think and then up to three minutes to talk on the subject. The answer might be a question, random gibberish, or contain a real clue to breaking a stone wall, but no matter which, it should be lots of fun. Also there will be some door prizes in the jar, so miss out out on winnning a prize!

Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year

Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society

2026 Programs and Events

January 10 - Social History and Your Genealogical Research
Febuary- All Saturdays of the month- Original Wasco County Courthouse History Forums
March 14- Kenneth R. Marks - How to Develop Critical Online Newspaper Research Skills
April 11 - Ft. Dalles Tour
May - IOOF Photo Requests
June 5 - Membership Luncheon
Summer Break- July and August
September 19- Brian Rhinehart-Navigating the Records From The War of 1812
Oct. 17 - National Family History Month - Intro to Genealogy-Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

Pioneers of The West

Header Photo: Helen Lundeberg created this painting while employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal program that employed artists during the Great Depression. Like other WPA artists, Lundeberg depicted a hopeful view of the United States during a time of turmoil and uncertainty by showing a dreamlike image of western expansion. The group of pioneers, with their backs to the viewer, follows an ox-drawn wagon into a valley. The monumental figures appear strong and assured in their forward progress. Rising mountains melt into the sun. Lundeberg's style of mixing fantastic images with reality is evident in the background: The pink, rolling mountains blend into the orange, pink, and bluish haze of the sky; it is difficult to determine where the mountains end and the sky begins. The careful use of space and dreamlike elements in Pioneers of the West is representative of Lundeberg's postsurrealist style. This movement, derived from surrealism, purposely combined fantasy with reality and was predominantly found on the West Coast. (Helen Lundeberg, Pioneers of the West, 1934, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.8.27) GSA: Information and images created or owned by the GSA unless otherwise indicated, are considered in the public domain. They may be distributed or copied as permitted by applicable law.