Strength, Struggle, Survival: A Community Response to 250 Years

MARY C. VERHOEVEN GALLERY
July 2, 2026
- March 7, 2027
Corvallis Museum

Strength, Struggle, Survival: A Community Response to 250 Years

MARY C. VERHOEVEN GALLERY
July 2, 2026
- March 7, 2027
Corvallis Museum
Corvallis Museum

Strength, Struggle, Survival: A Community Response to 250 Years

MARY C. VERHOEVEN GALLERY
July 2, 2026
- March 7, 2027
As the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit invites visitors to reflect not just on the nation’s founding, but on who has had the power—and the opportunity—to shape its history.
Through multiple lenses, “Strength, Struggle, Survival” explores how work, language, and collective action have influenced who participates in civic life. “Who Has Time for Revolution?” examines the occupations and social standing of the Founding Fathers, asking what made their leadership possible and who was excluded. “Who Was Left Out” considers how the language of the Declaration has shaped the lives of Native peoples for generations. “How Do We Remember?” is a community art collection which brings together diverse voices and creative responses to these themes. And “How Do We Continue the Work” is the story of Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Corvallis which highlights the ongoing impact of local action and shared vision.
Together, these sections connect past to present, centering both national history and local experience. They invite visitors to consider how systems of labor, access, and representation have evolved—and how they continue to shape our communities today.
Who has the time, the resources, and the voice to participate in democracy? And how might that change in the future?
Indigenous woman wearing a t shirt with white letters that reads merciless indian savages

Related programming

Lecture: The Legacy of Anti-Indigenous Rhetoric in the Fabric of the Nation

Thursday, October 8, 2025 10:30 am

Speaker: Dr. Luhui Whitebear

More information and registration

Nathan Engage Corvallis Tours

Related Tours

Jul 11 - Sep 25, dates and times vary! Register Here!

Join an interpretive tour that extends from the museum gallery into the streets of Corvallis. Hear vivid stories that connect Corvallis to national forces, including 19th‑century pre-and-post colonization, the railroad and labor histories that built our town, and mid‑20th‑century car‑centric planning that reshaped the architecture of daily life. Partnering with Engage Corvallis, these tours last about 90 minutes and involve viewing the exhibit in the gallery as well as walking through the streets of downtown Corvallis. You will see familiar places with fresh eyes and learn how choices made generations ago still shape our community.

Tickets are free thanks to a grant from Oregon250. Please pre-register.

Please dress for the weather as a portion of the tour occurs outside. We'll spend part of the time in air conditioning and have plenty of protection from the sky outdoors.

Tours are led by staff from Engage Corvallis Walking Tours

Multiple dates available. Register Here!

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