Beekman House Tours: “Victorian Travel”
“Victorian Travel” at Jacksonville’s Historic Beekman House
| Jul 18: Travel in the Victorian Era | |
| In the span of 50 years, transportation options advanced from horseback, wagon or buggy, stagecoach, and sailing ship, to railroad, steamship and automobile. |
Tours are $10 with on-line reservations required. Tickets are available at https://www.historicjacksonville.org/victorian-theme-tours/. Historic Jacksonville, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization. Proceedsf rom all tours benefit historic restoration projects. For additional information and other season offerings, contact info@historicjacksonville.org or 541-245-3650or visit www.historicjacksonville.org.
Travel in the Victorian Age:
From Horse to “HorselessCarriage”
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Americanswere on the move during the second half of the 19th Century! In the span of 50 years, transportationoptions advanced from horseback, wagon or buggy, stagecoach, and sailing ship,to railroad, steamship and automobile. And Jacksonville’s pioneer Beekman family experienced them all! View antique cars and learn about the rapidchanges in transportation during the late 1800s when the Rogue Valley A’s join HistoricJacksonville, Inc. for “Travel in the Victorian Age” from 12n to 3 p.m. onSaturday, July 18, at Jacksonville’s historic Cornelius C. Beekman House.
Like many ambitious men, Cornelius Beekman was lured west bythe promise of gold, sailing in steerage from New York to Panama in 1850,crossing the Isthmus by canoe and mule train, and then finding passage on a SanFrancisco bound ship. He came toJacksonville in 1853 as an express rider carrying gold, papers, and mail overthe Siskiyous to Yreka three times a week on horseback. From that humble beginning, he became one ofJacksonville’s wealthiest pioneers, amassing a business empire that includedbanking, insurance, mining, and real estate interests. He wasalso a public servant and philanthropist and was named one of the 100 mostinfluential Oregonians of the 19th century.
As was typical of upper class Victorians of wealth andprominence, Beekman family members traveled the West and East Coasts, visited Canadaand Alaska, criss-crossed the country, and toured Europe. Beekman’s1870s home, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, remains completely furnished with family artifacts,many of them souvenirs from the family’s frequent travels.
One-hour house tours will be offered every 20 minutes withcostumed docents sharing information about the Beekmans’ many trips, the modesof transportation available to them, and how advances in transportationimpacted family life and life in Jacksonville. Vintage vehicles will bedisplayed on the lawn courtesy of the Rogue Valley Model A Club. House tours are $10; tour size is capped,and reservations are encouraged. Proceedsbenefit local historic preservation efforts.Additional information and reservations are available at https://historicjacksonville.org/victorian-theme-tours/.
Travel in the Victorian Age is one in a series of 2025 Victorianthemed events at the 1870s Beekman House Museum that focus on different aspectsof life in the late 1800s as viewed through the lens of Jacksonville and itsmost prominent pioneer family. Upcomingtopics include Victorian Hobbies & Crafts (August 15), Victorian MedicalPractices (September 19 & 20), and Victorian Mourning Customs (October 3& 4 and October 10 & 11).
For additional information, contact 541-245-3650 or info@historicjacksonville.org orvisit www.historicjacksonville.org.
