Lithia Park began in 1892 as eight acres dedicated to entertainment and culture. It has grown and changed dramatically, and today comprises 93 acres, 42 of which are on the National Register. In 1910 the lower duck pond and waterfall feeding it were constructed. In 1914 John McLaren, who also designed San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, was hired as Lithia Park’s landscape … [Read more...]
#101 – Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Ashland’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival was founded by an enthusiastic young teacher named Angus L. Bowmer, and was officially born on July 2, 1935 with a production of Twelfth Night. Since then the enterprise has grown considerably, and currently employs approximately 500 people. It has also changed direction significantly in recent years. Although it is still named after the … [Read more...]
#95 – Craterian Theater at the Collier Center
Erected in 1924, the Craterian Theater has gone through several incarnations, including vaudeville house and movie theater. Recently redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up, today it is a southern Oregon state-of-the-art community performing arts center. The facility features excellent acoustics and sightlines, an impressive array of theatrical equipment, and is operated by a … [Read more...]