Sumpter Municipal Museum
Sumpter Valley Museum Association (SVMA)
"History Is the Most Important Intellectual Tool Society Possesses"
The Sumpter Municipal Museum belongs to the Citizens of Sumpter. The building (most recently known as 'The Sumpter Supply'), was donated to the City of Sumpter in the year 2000. This donation included an additional adjacent property, part of which the City was permitted to sell and the profits applied to capital improvements for the restoration of the Museum's historic building.
Built as a Mercantile in 1899, the structure served the community as a Tavern, Grocery, Gas Station, and a Liquor Store, to name a few of the uses it has seen throughout the years.
Many important artifacts relating to the history of Sumpter are exhibited. Thanks to the generosity of the Baker County Library and The Oregon Trail Regional Museum, several high quality photographic collections significant to Sumpter are the basis of our Photographic Archive. New collections are surfacing and through grants and donations, the Museum is continuing the archival process.
The mission of the Museum is to interpret Sumpter as a City and the reasons for its existence ... Gold Mining, Logging and Ranching!
"The Purpose Of History Is to Explain The Present"
The SVMA Organization And Its Goals: The SVMA is a non-profit, tax-exempt Oregon Corporation. The SVMA received its tax-exempt status from the IRS in March of 2000.
Our Board Of Directors is comprised of five SVMA members, each focused on a common vision ("Valley Vision, as it has become known locally), to preserve our local heritage within the Sumpter Valley and surrounding area.
We are currently operating under a Memorandum Of Understanding with the City of Sumpter to actively manage and develop the Sumpter Municipal Museum. We perform a myriad of tasks, from nail pounding to grant writing.
Grants awarded in the past 3 years:
- $12,000 for capital improvements to the Museum building from The Meyer Memorial Trust (2001).
- $6,000 from The Leo Adler Foundation (2002) to begin a Photographic Archive of several hundred historic photographs of early Sumpter.
- $4,600 from The Leo Adler Foundation (2003) for continuing the Photographic Archive of early Sumpter.
- $5,000 from The Leo Adler Foundation (2004) to be used for additional capital improvements for interior restoration work of the Museum.
- $7,500 from The Leo Adler Foundation (2006) to complete the flooring renovation project.
We have many projects in the fire and we need interested people to join our effort, which brings us to our membership ...
Sumpter Valley Museum Association Membership
Fundamental to the success of any organization is the support of it's members. It is ONLY through active and dedicated memberships that our goals will be accomplished. Joining the SVMA, whether you participate by volunteering your time or with financial support (or BOTH!) is a unique opportunity to build your Museum from the ground up.
This endeavor is meant to be a fun and exciting opportunity to share our wonderful heritage with others. We are off to a good start and with your skills and ideas; we will create an important and unique experience to all that pass through our doors.
