The Deschutes Historical Museum’s newest exhibit Winter Comes: Oregon’s Nordic Ski History is now open. The exhibit details the strong influence of the Scandinavian culture that pushed Central Oregon to the forefront of Nordic skiing in the early 1920s.

The 1,200 square foot, interactive exhibit features oral histories from sons and daughters of ski pioneers, the history of Nordic skiing, as well as reproductions of past skiing equipment and clothing to current technology.  Artifacts for the exhibit have been gathered from Norway, Sweden and around the state.

A highlight of the exhibit is the display of the trophy known as The Klamath, on loan from the Västerbottens Museum in Umeå, Sweden. Local skiing legend Emil Nordeen won the trophy in 1931 with his second win of the Ft. Klamath to Crater Lake ski race.

The history of Nordic skiing in Oregon, Bend and Central Oregon has never been told in a comprehensive way, until now. The exhibit is made possible through generous grants from the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund, the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Oregon Nordic Ski Foundation, and many local donors and businesses.

The exhibit runs through November 2016.

The Deschutes Historical Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10am to 4:30pm. Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for youth 13-17, and children 12 and under are free.

541-389-1813
www.deschuteshistory.org.