Take a step back in time at the Thompson's Mills State Heritage Site. This mill, first built in 1858, supplied Willamette Valley residents with flour and briefly supported the long-gone town of Boston, Oregon. The original mill burned down in 1862, but it was quickly replaced and back in business.
In the 1940s the food supply became more industrialized and fewer households were baking bread. The mill shifted its focus to providing animal feed in order to stay in operation. In the 1980s the mill began generating power and selling it to the local utility. The mill finally ceased operations in 2004, three years before being established as a state heritage site in 2007.
Take a guided tour of the site to learn more about the mill's operation and the history of the area. Tours run daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. You can also take a self-guided tour of the first floor anytime the mill is open. Interpretive displays are located throughout the mill and on the grounds.
While you're there, stop and feed the turkeys, chickens and ducks that live on site and enjoy a picnic as you watch the Calapooia River roll by. The site is open year round, except for major holidays, and it makes a great destination for the whole family.
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