Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days is a year-round heritage hub celebrating the people, places, and stories of the Bohemia Mining District. We connect our community through living history, education, events, media, and hands-on experiences.
Proudly Designated an Oregon Heritage Tradition
The Oregon Heritage Tradition designation honors long-running community events (50+ years) that reflect Oregon’s unique character and help tell the state’s story. It’s an ongoing distinction administered by the Oregon Heritage Commission to encourage heritage-based tourism. Note: This designation does not include financial support.
Year-round, we bring local history to life through The Mining Vault podcast and social channels. The podcast preserves stories from the Bohemia Mining District and Cottage Grove; our socials extend them with shorts, archival photos, trivia, and the popular Legends of Cottage Grove series. Next, we’re expanding with more video content and additional episodes to reach even more people.
Our education arm connecting all ages to local heritage. Programs include Bohemia City Leaders (youth leadership & event planning), Future Bohemia City Citizens (hands-on history for kids), and Bohemia Senior Connections (monthly talks in senior communities). Coming up: expanded youth/family offerings, classroom-ready activities, and deeper integration with our media projects to keep heritage accessible to everyone.
Our cornerstone multi-day celebration turns Cottage Grove into a living storybook of history and community. Thousands enjoy live music, parades, contests, vendors, family activities, and heritage programming honoring the Bohemia Mining District. We piloted an educational Kids Zone, expanded storytelling, and added impactful partnerships. Next, we’ll grow interactive experiences, expand contests, and add heritage exhibits that engage residents and visitors for generations.
The festival is a catalyst for collaboration. We partnered with the Bohemia Mine Owners Association and Bohemia Gold Mining Museum on heritage programs; Prospectors & Golddiggers on shared traditions; and the Cottage Grove Art Collective on creative storytelling. With Kyle Kishen Construction and Cascade Home Center, we built new façade walls as a lasting asset. We also teamed with the Fort Umpqua Muzzleloaders to showcase frontier history and Singing Creek Educational Center to expand heritage education.
A spring, hands-on event with Family Relief Nursery that connects families to local history. In 2025 it engaged 150+ youth with crafts and storytelling centered on the Bohemia Mining District, with strong Hispanic participation. We’ll expand with more interactive stations and partners to inspire Cottage Grove’s next generation of storytellers, leaders, and community builders.
We’re developing guided excursions to bring history directly to the community. Led by our team with support from board member Dave Light, participants will explore historic trails, try gold panning, and tour Bohemia City’s remaining sites. Still in planning, the program blends storytelling, hands-on learning, and on-the-ground history to inspire future generations.
Heritage Preservation & Local History. We partnered with the Fall Creek Historic Society, Bohemia Gold Mining Museum, Cottage Grove Historical Society, and Cottage Grove Genealogical Society to preserve and digitize historic mining photos—expanding the record of the Bohemia Mining District and other Oregon regions. As members of Partners in History, we also help host History Pubs.
Bringing Heritage into the Community. Beyond the festival, we supported the Spring Fun Festival, partnered with the Chamber of Commerce on the world-record gold-panning attempt, and brought history into local spaces with events like heritage trivia at Saginaw Vineyard. As Partners in History members, we also share responsibility for History Pubs—keeping conversations about our region’s past vibrant and accessible for people of all ages.
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I got my start at Bohemia Mining Days in 2019 with the Jail Cell Photobooth and helped with the Art Show we hosted that year. Each year since, the Jail Cell Photobooth has been a favorite among the citizens of Cottage Grove. In 2024, I stepped up to lead the Spirit of BMD celebration to ensure the event continued. Now, I am the Executive Director of Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Cottage Grove's history, fostering community engagement, and inspiring future leaders through the annual festival and year-round initiatives.