YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE COUNT!
Make Your Voice Heard on November 5
Our forefathers gave us the most important freedom of all — the right to govern ourselves — the right to a free ballot.
No one understood the importance of voting better than Wayne Morse, who represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate from 1945 to 1969 as a Republican, Independent and Democrat. He was involved in eight campaigns, many closely contested. He urged constituents to be citizen-statesmen — to get involved in their communities; to become enlightened on the facts of the issues which confronted those communities and the nation.
To carry on Senator Morse’s legacy, WMHPC again joins with the nonpartisan Nonprofit VOTE to ensure people across Oregon and the country are heard in our democratic processes.
Are you registered to vote? Is your registration information up to date?
The last day to register or update your voter registration information in Oregon is OCTOBER 15, 2024. Registering to vote takes but a few minutes. If you’ve moved, changed your name or mailing address, or want to select or change your party affiliation, you must update your voter information. The appropriate voter registration forms and additional information are available at your country election office or https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/voteinor.aspx
Make sure you vote!
In Oregon, Voters Pamphlets are sent out two to three weeks before each statewide election. Watch your mailbox for your ballot which will be sent to instate residents starting October 16, 2024. Study the Pamphlets and, as soon as you receive your ballot, VOTE!
Be sure to sign your ballot. Carefully follow the instructions for mailing or dropping off your ballot. For further information about voting by mail or where to find local ballot drop boxes in Oregon, contact your county election office or https://sos.oregon.gov/elections/Pages/voteinor.aspx
If you are a resident of another state, check with your state or local elections office for the most current registration and voting information. Information for other states is also available at: www.nonprofitvote.org/voting-in-your-state
Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship
The Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation established the Wayne Morse Legacy Scholarship in 2011 to recognize Oregon students who seek access to higher education and may be inspired by the Senator’s legacies of public service, integrity, and commitment to principle and independence. The outstanding recipients have attended Portland State, Oregon State, the University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Lane and Portland Community Colleges, OHSU/Oregon Health Sciences University, and Pacific University.. Check our Scholarship Page for more information.
HISTORY AND POLITICS COME ALIVE AT WAYNE MORSE FAMILY FARM PARK!
You can enjoy the 27 acre Wayne Morse Family Farm, which is a City of Eugene Park. The trails and the off leash dog area are open. The picnic shelter is available for rental events, in addition to a few limited teen and fitness classes approved by City Recreational Services. During summer months, the City’s Wayne Morse Summer Day Camp is held on site.
When you come to the Morse Farm, you can walk the trails which Wayne Morse and his family enjoyed. Bring your dog to exercise in the fenced Off Leash Dog Area in the lower east pasture where Morse trained champion horses in an oval riding ring. Or find a quiet place to enjoy a book as the Morse daughters often did.
The white framed sign on the fence near the sidewalk to the family home presents a brief history about Morse, his family and Farm. Continue checking here through our website for additional background about Senator Morse, his Farm, and the Wayne Morse Historical Park Corporation.
Throughout Eugene, there are more places to discover Morse — and Eugene — history. Take one of the tours below or visit the Mims House and the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House across town near Skinner Butte.
- On the Trail of the Tiger, travels around Eugene and the University of Oregon, offering opportunities to learn about a remarkable Oregonian and reflect on his legacies. Download our tour brochure PDF (2 legal size 8.5×14 pages). Information about the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza in downtown Eugene is available by clicking here.
- A ramble around the Crest Drive neighborhood with some nearby historic homes. See PDF: Welcome to Wayne Morse Family Farm and Historic Homes of the Crest Drive Neighborhood . Please note all homes are private and not open to the public.
- The Mims House, in the East Skinner Butte area, served as a safe house for African American travelers from 1948 to 1966 when there was race separation in Eugene. It now serves as the headquarters of the Eugene-Springfield National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 2017, Wayne Morse’s long service for the NAACP and his commitment to civil rights were recognized at the Mims House with a photo plaque commemorating his 1947 speech to the NAACP at the Lincoln Memorial. Call for information about visiting, (541) 484-1119.
- Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, in the south Skinner Butte area and our sister historic house museum, is considered an unofficial city history museum, with tours, exhibits and virtual programs available. Plan a visit at https://smjhouse.org.
Learn more:
Our biography about Wayne Morse explores his role in Oregon and our nation’s history. Click on PDF link (22 pages).Morse is celebrated for his legacies of independent judgment and integrity throughout his public service as a renowned federal labor arbitrator and four-term United States Senator from Oregon. He led the University of Oregon’s School of Law for 14 years.
Our National Register page offers historical details about Edgewood Farm, where Morse and his family lived from 1936 to 1974.