National Oregon Day was recently celebrated to honor one of the country's most geographically diverse states. From deserts to bodies of water to dense forests, you'll find a wide variety of natural beauty in our state. It's also a great reminder to remember the rich history of Klamath Falls. Our real estate agents share more about how our city began.

The Founding of Linkville

George Nurse registered the first plat of a town called Linkville, located on the eastern bank of the Link River in 1867. He helped the area grow by building a store and hotel and by donating land for a school, courthouse, and cemetery, as well as to settlers who promised to build homes.

If you'd like to see the site of Nurse's store, you'll find it where the Link River Bridge crosses the river.

Tremendous Growth for Klamath Falls

The town of Linkville was renamed Klamath Falls in 1893. Although the area had plenty of forests, it was too far away from major markets to profit from them. That changed in 1909 with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the town became the fastest-growing in Oregon in the 1920s.

The Great Depression halted the lumber boom in 1929, ending Klamath Falls' exponential growth. Instead of becoming a boomtown or being deserted, Klamath Falls became a smaller yet thriving area. With plenty of charm, natural beauty, a rich history, cultural opportunities, and a vibrant economy, the town has become an ideal place to visit or to call home.

Find Out More

To learn more about the history of Klamath Falls, visit the following destinations: 

• Self-Guided Downtown Walking Tour 
  Take a self-guided downtown walking tour with 21 stops over a 1.5-mile route. You'll see the Baldwin House, an 8,000-square-foot mansion built in 1900, as well as the locomotive husk of Southern Pacific Engine 2579 and many other significant sites and objects. You'll also be able to see early architectural influences, including examples of Art Deco and Gothic Revival. The final stop is the Klamath County Museum. To take the tour, download a PDF and map of its route and sites.
  
  
• The Klamath County Museum - 1451 Main St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601
  The Klamath County Museum features exhibits on the area's human history as well as its natural history. Outdoor exhibits are available to view any time and include a native plant garden with more than 150 species of wildflowers, trees, and more.
  
  
• The Favell Museum - 125 W. Main St., Klamath Falls, OR 97601
  The Favell Museum is also well worth a stop. It focuses on artifacts from indigenous tribes with a collection of over 100,000 items, including some that are 12,000 years old, as well as Western art. You'll see thousands of arrowheads, obsidian knives, ancient stone tools, and much more.
  
  Be sure to see the fire opal arrowhead found in the Black Rock Desert in 1910 and one of the most pristine and rare arrowheads discovered. Western art original paintings found at the museum include the original oil "The Scouts" by Charles M. Russell as well as works by John Clymer and others. Their paintings tell the story of the West in an artistic and compelling way.

If you'd like to find your place in our charming town, contact us today. We're the #1 agency in the Klamath Basin and know the area well since we've served it for over 50 years. Let us show you Klamath Falls homes for sale and share what makes our community so special!