Favell Museum: A Southern Oregon Treasure

Oregon Museum: “People who visit our museum are often stunned by the depth of our collections. What began as a hobby in the 1930’s for a little boy and his family, has grown into the internationally known, Favell Museum,” says Pat McMillan, the Museum’s Director.

Pat explains, “The collection began during the 1930’s, long before restrictions on gathering native American artifacts were enacted. Ruth and Eugene Favell would take their son, Gene, with them out to find arrowheads and any other artifacts they could discover. They were, in their time, truly amateur archaeologists. By the early 1970’s the Favell family collection had grown so large that Gene open the museum to preserve and store the collections. Even the ground where the museum is built is historic. Oregon’s Klamath Indians fished and camped by the river on these grounds.”

By the time the Museum opened in the early ’70s, Pat tells us that Gene began collecting art by western artists that reflected the institution’s philosophies. Up and coming contemporary western artists like John Clymer and Frank McCarthy have pieces in the museum. Over the years the Museum acquired and exhibits paintings from Charles Russell and E.S. Paxson. The Museum’s fine art displays are a significant roll call of the Cowboy Artists of America.

Since early 2004, the Museum has been a private, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and displaying these amazing artifacts and pieces of artwork. Approximately 20,000 visitors each year walk through the doors and are astonished by the breath and depth of the exhibits.

The Museum is open year-round (with the exception of holidays) Monday – Saturday from 9:30 a.m. thru 5:30 p.m. It is located in the southern Oregon town of Klamath Falls. If you would like to explore the Museum’s website just click on Favell Museum. Or, you can call the main office at 541-882-9996.