Aurora
Oregon
Aurora Colony Historical Society
History
The Old Aurora Colony Museum houses all that remains of a way of life which began arriving in Aurora in 1856. Dr. William Keil, a strong, religious man, organized his followers under the Golden Rule: “Every man and woman must be a brother or sister to every other man or women in our family under the fatherhood of God – EVERYDAY.”
The Utopian society of Aurora, Oregon was established by Dr. Keil as the site of what was to be his last communal settlement. Keil was a charismatic Prussian tailor and self-styled physician who began preaching soon after his arrival in the United States in 1831. He attracted a following for his fundamental Christian preaching which centered on the Golden Rule and his belief, “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” Like the Shakers, Rappites, and other religious Utopian groups of the 19th Century, Aurora Colony was inspired by the description of the earliest communities of Christians in Acts 2: 44-45: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. [RSP]”
Recent News
Aurora Colony Museum Newsletter - July 2024
In this Issue - Special presentation "Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley" by David Lewis Thursday, July 11th. - New Daily Hours for the Summer! & Welcome Kendall Marr! - Save the Date! Party at the Farm Fundraising Dinner &…
Read More »Aurora Colony Museum Newsletter - February 2024
In this Issue: - Special presentation "Aurora on the Edge of Eden: History & Archaeology of French Prairie" by David Brauner at the Annual Meeting, Sat. Feb. 24th. - Contribute to our next exhibit, Journey Stories opening Feb. 24th. -…
Read More »Aurora Colony Historical Society News - October 27, 2023
The Votes Are In... Congratulations to our winners of Best in Theme and Best in Show! 1st Place Theme & Show: Bear #33 by Mary Doak 2nd Place Theme: Flower Patch by Kathryn Olsen 2nd Place Show: Red Work Christmas by Dawn Leder 3rd Place…
Read More »Old Aurora Colony Museum News - Party at the Farm Tickets on Sale Now!
In this Issue - Party at the Farm Tickets on Sale, Event is Sun. Aug. 27th - Aurora Colony Days Biergarten, Fri. Aug. 11th - Living History Day at the Museum, Sat. Aug. 12th - Welcome to our newest Team Members Erick Larsen & Siobhan…
Read More »Aurora Colony Historical Society Annual Appeal 2022
2022 Annual Appeal Preserve the History & Legacy of the Aurora Colony Dear Friends In the fall of 1863, a group of Colony members drove their oxen pulled wagons the last few miles into their new home of French Prairie and Aurora, at the end…
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