Oregon has plenty of odd, quirky stories to be discovered when we look back at our recent (and not so recent) history and media coverage. Here are seven of the strangest things to take place in Oregon–and they range from bizarre little occurrences to incredible stories and astonishing discoveries. For instance, did you know that the oldest pair of shoes in the world were found in a cave in Oregon? Or that the Oregon Duck’s mascot got suspended for getting in a fist fight with another team’s mascot? Portland’s World Naked Bike Ride could certainly be considered odd, as could maintaining a Bigfoot trap for six years.
- The (now defunct) North American Wildlife Research Team erected a Bigfoot trap in the Siskiyou National Forest in 1974.
Wikipedia/ Mdvaden After a local man reported seeing enormous, humanlike footprints near his home, the NAWRT constructed a large trap that they kept baited with animals carcasses for six years, hoping to catch the legendary creature. The trap is still around, and you can go see it for yourself!
- The town of Boring, Oregon paired up with Dull, Scotland to become sister towns.
Flickr/ pviel Every year on August 9th, the towns pair up to throw ‘Dull and Boring celebrations’. How exciting!
- The oldest shoes in the world were discovered in Oregon.
Flickr/ Ian Poellet In 1938, about 70 pairs of 10,000 year old sandals were found in a cave in central Oregon, preserved beneath a layer of ash from the Mount Mazama eruption, which happened roughly 7,500 years ago. It took 70 years for scientist and anthropologists to realize they had found the oldest shoes in the world.
- The Oregon Duck’s mascot was suspended for physically fighting the Houston Cougar’s mascot.
Flickr/ KidsLoveAnimals I suppose he’s nicknamed the “Fighting Duck” for a reason!
- The Portland World Naked Bike Ride.
Flickr/ Sam Beebe Every year thousands of cyclists come together for the World Naked Bike Ride in Portland, in which people ride their bikes around the city in varying degrees of nudity to celebrate bicycling and protest our society’s dependence on motor vehicles.
- This one is just amazing. Ezra Meeker, an Oregon Trail pioneer, lived long enough to fly an airplane across the trail.
Wikipedia/ Unattributed He crossed the Oregon Trail with an ox-drawn wagon at age 22, and then crossed it by airplane when he was 96. He witnessed enormous technological advancements, all in one long lifetime. Incredible!
- A coyote hopped aboard a the light rail in Portland - and got famous for it.
Flickr/ Andy Cross In 2002 a coyote boarded one of Portland’s Light Rails, and went on to become quite famous for it. The Portland band Sleater-Kinney named their song “Light Rail Coyote” after the event, and the band Modest Mouse made a music video re-creating the train ride for their song “Coyotes”.
There are many strange things that have happened in Oregon’s history. What do you think is the weirdest thing to happen in Oregon? Share your stories in the comments.
Wikipedia/ Mdvaden
After a local man reported seeing enormous, humanlike footprints near his home, the NAWRT constructed a large trap that they kept baited with animals carcasses for six years, hoping to catch the legendary creature. The trap is still around, and you can go see it for yourself!
Flickr/ pviel
Every year on August 9th, the towns pair up to throw ‘Dull and Boring celebrations’. How exciting!
Flickr/ Ian Poellet
In 1938, about 70 pairs of 10,000 year old sandals were found in a cave in central Oregon, preserved beneath a layer of ash from the Mount Mazama eruption, which happened roughly 7,500 years ago. It took 70 years for scientist and anthropologists to realize they had found the oldest shoes in the world.
Flickr/ KidsLoveAnimals
I suppose he’s nicknamed the “Fighting Duck” for a reason!
Flickr/ Sam Beebe
Every year thousands of cyclists come together for the World Naked Bike Ride in Portland, in which people ride their bikes around the city in varying degrees of nudity to celebrate bicycling and protest our society’s dependence on motor vehicles.
Wikipedia/ Unattributed
He crossed the Oregon Trail with an ox-drawn wagon at age 22, and then crossed it by airplane when he was 96. He witnessed enormous technological advancements, all in one long lifetime. Incredible!
Flickr/ Andy Cross
In 2002 a coyote boarded one of Portland’s Light Rails, and went on to become quite famous for it. The Portland band Sleater-Kinney named their song “Light Rail Coyote” after the event, and the band Modest Mouse made a music video re-creating the train ride for their song “Coyotes”.
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