Descendants of the Aurora Colony

Families with Roots in Aurora

An estimated 1,000 people spent some time working and living in the Bethel and/or Aurora Colonies. There are, consequently, many more thousands of descendants of these original Colony members. 

Colony descendants were very active in the organization of the Aurora Colony Historical Society in 1963, and they have supported the museum with donations of artifacts since it first opened in 1966.

Family History Files

ACHS maintains active contact files with Colony descendants including correspondence, family related research, photography files and lists of museum artifact donations. These files are open to qualified researchers by emailing us or calling 503-678-5754.

Collections and Exhibits

We exhibit authentic Colony artifacts usually acquired by donation or loan from Colony families. Since the Colonists made most of their furniture, textiles, metal products and baskets, we have a rich collection from which to draw.

“My return to Aurora, Oregon was prompted by my mother who believed that my great grandfather on my father’s side came over the Oregon Trail and homesteaded in Aurora. On our visit to Aurora we stopped at City Hall and they directed us to the museum. A tour was just starting so we joined in. As the tour progressed, I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if my great-grandfather had been part of this Colony but I just figured that was too much to ask. When the tour ended, I went to Mark Peterson, Curator, who conducted the tour and told him I was trying to locate some history. He asked my name and said ‘let’s go upstairs and look in the files’. As he pulled a brown envelope from the cabinet he said, ‘this is an alphabetical list of all of the members’ At the top of the list was my Great-Grandfather Michael Bachert. To say the least it was really exciting. I had to run to the car and tell my Mom who at that time was pushing ninety years of age.”

Bachert then began serious research into his family history and continued contributing information, photographs and even artifacts to the museum collection till he died in the mid-1990’s.

Aurora Stories

Are you a Descendant of the Colony? Share your story with us!

If you are a descendant of the colony, we’d love to get in touch. Share updates to your family tree and share a story from your family’s past.

Do you have an anecdotal information or bit of history about the original days of the Colony? Maybe your grandparents told you a story that you could share? Have we heard stories from your family yet?

Here's your chance!