The Powerland Heritage Park will host its annual showcase of antique cars, imported trolleys and steam-powered logging machines over the next two weekends, July 26-27 and Aug. 2-3.

Now in its 55th year, the Great Oregon Steam-Up brought 15,000 people to the park last year.

“It’s a recognized Oregon Heritage Tradition, and it brings to life the history of Oregon, the machines that built it, and the people that built it,” said Joe Tracy, the park’s event coordinator.

Hours each day are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $17 for adults, $12 for ages 13 to 17, and admission is free for those 12 and under. Parking costs $5 per vehicle.

In addition to visiting the 14 nonprofit museums on-site, including the blacksmith shop and an antique tractor collection, kids can enjoy various activities.

“The Great Oregon Steam-Up is very family-focused. There’s tons of things to do,” Tracy said.

Trolleys will offer rides throughout the day. Food trucks will serve food and drinks. And old-fashioned machinery will form a daily parade.

“They get to see these big, massive, unique, and powerful machines come to life,” Tracy said.

Kids can also participate in a passport program, collecting pins from each museum in exchange for a prize. By the late afternoon, Tracy expects the lawns will be dotted with napping children, exhausted by the day’s activities.

“The event is a visual feast,” Tracy said. “There’s just so much going on.” 

In the park, eras of machinery coexist in a head-spinning spectacle. During off-hours, volunteers commute throughout the grounds in classic cars, modern John Deere tractors, or vintage fire engines.

Rick Simmons has volunteered with the Northwest Vintage Car and Motorcycle Museum for 10 years. 

“I’m a mechanic by trade. I’ve been doing this stuff for over 50 years,” he said. “I still call this place my Disneyland.”

The museum has been on the grounds for 20 years. Its 6,000-square-foot garage hosts dozens of classic cars and motorcycles, some donated and others lent for display.

In a shop beside the museum, volunteers tinker with restoration projects constantly. They’re currently restoring an old Chevrolet from scratch, handforming metal plates for the body. 

The shop is a mechanic’s paradise, emitting a metallic odor with a hint of motor oil. Thousands of nuts and bolts are scattered on tables and work benches, others heaped in old Folgers Coffee cans. A shelf holds ancient manuals and handbooks, smudged with grease.

The museum has completed just a few restorations, given the 1,000 to 2,000 man-hours they require. Some restoration projects are handled by students selected by Salem-Keizer Public Schools, who work under close mentorship.

“We have about six students through the school year, and an equal number of mentors, and they take the kids under their wing,” Simmons said. “Hopefully, that will help energize a career later.”

Peter Eisenbacher, a homeschooled student from Gervais, has been in the program since November. 

“I’ve worked on a bunch of stuff,” he said. “I’ve worked in the machine shop. I’ve welded.”

He loves hearing the stories of the seasoned volunteers, who share commentary as they work. Many of their photos hang in the shop.

Some of the restored cars are displayed, while others are sold for general funds. Aside from car sales, the museum survives on grants, donations, and a collective endowment maintained by members.

Simmons looks forward to showing off his antique, wooden school bus during The Great Oregon Steam-Up. 

“It’s a great bargain, if you’re looking at what it costs to get in and what you get to see. You could spend all day here and not see everything. Really, it’s a great buy,” he said.

Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected].

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