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Windows in Time: “The Land Remembers: Landscapes of the Rogue Indian Wars”

Windows in Time: “The Land Remembers: Landscapes of the Rogue Indian Wars” Online

The Southern Oregon landscape has seen many changes in the century and a half since the Rogue River Wars raged through the region. Despite being one of the longest and bloodiest of all the Indian wars in the West, it remains largely forgotten today. But, the land endures, and much remains to take the observant traveler back in time. Photographer Richard Bergeman revisits the landscape where the conflict tore through the fabric of both indigenous and settler communities over 150 years ago. His black-and-white infrared photographs offer a hauntingly beautiful homage to a history forgotten.

Richard Bergeman is a Corvallis photographer whose work focuses on retelling forgotten episodes in Northwest history through photographs of what's left behind. An exhibiting fine art photographer for nearly 40 years, he has created books and exhibitions on the lost homesteads of the Fort Rock Basin, early settlement of the Oregon Coast Range, pioneer philosopher James Swan on Willapa Bay, and vanishing traces of frontier life in eastern Oregon and Washington, among others. His most recent work is “The Land Remembers: Photographs Inspired by the Rogue River Wars of Southern Oregon, 1851-56.”

The monthly Windows in Time lunchtime lectures feature well-known writers and historians and bring alive the people, values, and events that shaped our Southern Oregon heritage. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS) and Jackson County Library Services.

Image: Rogue River at Walker Bar by Richard Bergeman. This photograph offers a view of the central Rogue River from the Hogg Creek boat landing west of Merlin, in Josephine County. The photo is a good example of how an infrared camera alters the way we see the landscape. The photo provides a view looking downstream past Walker Bar, which is a few hundred feet below the meadow where the Battle of Big Bend took place in 1856. The two-day battle erupted at what was supposed to be a surrender rendezvous when the natives, fearing a trap, turned on the small Army contingent there. Reinforcements broke the siege led by Tecumtum (Chief John), and the Army prevailed in what turned out to be the final major conflict of the wars.

Date:
01/06/2021
Time:
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Time Zone:
Pacific Time - US & Canada (change)
Audience:
  Adults  
Categories:
  History     Presentation/Discussion  
Online:
This event will take place remotely via Zoom. Zoom meeting details will be emailed to you when you register.
Registration has closed.