February 14th, 2014 was Oregon’s 155th Birthday – and at ORHistory.com, we view this date with an almost religious significance – if your religion is hanging out in basement bars, drinking $5 specials of shots of Burnside Bourbon and High Life backs while gazing at cardboard creations that are loving created by geeked-out super crafters, that is! It was so great to see The Jack London Bar stuffed with dioramas describing moments of Oregon Kick Ass-ery. All of the contestants entries can be seen on our Facebook Machine.
The event received quite a bit of press this year, being one of The Mercury’s picks, and the subject of a wonderful feature by Jamie Hale at The Big O. 
We had figured, as such, that the event would be well attended, but this year was truly something special, with a standing room only crowd packing the bar. Must have been because we had free cake with dead deers on it? You know us – just keepin’ it real…
Doug Kenck-Crispin was feeling it on this fine evening. Never one to shy away from a little social commentary and political over tones, he took full advantage of the gravitas of the occasion to present some tidbits of Oregon’s past for the attendees to consider. The Resident Historian had a chance to talk about the shitty mutilation of Oregon’s sturgeon, the Victory Over Japan Day, Peter Frampton and Oregon being signed into Statehood by (possibly) America’s First Gay President. We examined art by Mr. Otis, and watched film on Bobbie The Wonder Dog and The Skidmore District. Tex might have described it best though…
And u should not miss @jacklondonbar @oregon_history.Tonight covered peter frampton, being 50th in worst childcare costs & embalming fluid.
— tex clark (@texclarkpdx) February 19, 2014
And, of course, Darcy won again. Her depiction of the cremains at the Oregon State Hospital was unreal, yet historically quite spot on. As the reigning champion, it was a difficult match up, or as Todd twatted:
Fantastic @oregon_history show last night! All the dioramas rocked, but it’s hard to be Clyde Drexler when Michael Jordan is in the game.
— Todd Diskin (@PDXToddDiskin) February 19, 2014
But everyone hates a winner, right…
Diorama realness and how to be gracious. @oregon_history throws good party. pic.twitter.com/kKmu6Eh1om
— HeatherArndtAnderson (@voodoolily) February 19, 2014
Melissa The Intern’s diorama of “Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Tom-McCall-in-a-Tub” took second, with Heather’s depiction of a Japanese Balloon Bomb killing a family of picnickers in Bly took third.
All-in-all, it was a HIGHLY entertaining evening! Andy and Doug want to thank you all who came, VERY MUCH!!! We defiantely appreciate your attendance, and we CAN’T WAIT for next year’s entries!!
Soooo… Do You Feel Like We Do, too?
