Community

New Douglas County Museum Exhibit Revisits Childhood Through Bikes, Toys and Trains

A new Douglas County Museum exhibit brings together 29 vintage bicycles, 104 toys and a collection of model trains, offering visitors a nostalgic look at childhood recreation spanning more than a century.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Generations of childhood memories are now on display at the Douglas County Museum through a new exhibit filled with antique bicycles, vintage toys and model trains.

The exhibit, titled “Timeless Treasures: Museum Bicycles & Toys,” brings together items dating from the late 1800s through the end of the 20th century. It is expected to remain open for at least a year.

At the center of the exhibit is a collection of 29 bicycles and 104 toys. Many of the pieces came from the family of the late Joe Burris, who spent years collecting and restoring historic bicycles.

Visitors will find everything from early bicycles with rigid frames and rough-riding wheels to children’s tricycles, tandem bikes and classic models from the 1950s and 1960s.

One of the more unusual pieces is a Schwinn Police Special that was once used by the Eugene Police Department. The display also includes a preserved Schwinn Deluxe 7 and a child’s sled believed to date back to the late 1800s.

More Than Just Bicycles

The exhibit reaches well beyond cycling history.

A large selection of toys offers a look at how children played before video games, tablets and modern electronics became common.

Items on display include:

Pedal-powered riding toys
Rocking horses
Wooden and metal sleds
Scooters
Dolls and doll carriages
Vintage board games
Children’s toys from several different eras

The collection gives visitors a chance to compare how toys changed over time while also showing the materials and craftsmanship used to make them.

Model Trains Span Several Decades

A separate portion of the exhibit is devoted to model railroading.

The train display includes pieces from the museum’s collection as well as trains belonging to Museum Operations Technician Jim Aune. The collection covers several different scales and includes models dating from roughly 1960 to 2000.

Museum Director James Davis helped develop the exhibit, while Museum Research Librarian and Collection Manager Karen Bratton organized the collection. Aune constructed the displays used throughout the exhibit.

County officials said the exhibit is meant to preserve the history found in everyday objects and connect visitors with items that may remind them of their own childhoods or those of their parents and grandparents.