Grand Opening of “Jennings Lodge: A Gathering Place for Faith, Community, and Revival” exhibit at MOOT

The Museum of the Oregon Territory has received funding to support a new exhibit and education programs on the history of the Jennings Lodge Camp in Clackamas County. The Jennings Lodge Camp was part of a national movement that started in the late 1700s with people gathering in natural settings for fellowship and worship. Rev. Noah Shupp purchased the Jennings Lodge Assembly Grounds in 1904. He and his congregation held annual camp meetings at the site during the summer when the camp was accessible by river travel or the interurban railway. Over the years, the church built an auditorium, a chapel, a dining hall, dormitories, and residences. In 1922, the Oregon City Enterprise newspaper estimated that 400 people attended the summer camp meeting. The site not only held religious value for those who attended camp meetings, but also social and environmental value as it was in a natural setting with a “Cathedral of Trees” towering over the camp.

The exhibit “Jennings Lodge: A Gathering Place for Faith, Community, and Revival” looks at the history of the Jennings Lodge Camp. How did the camp experience change over time? How is it different from today? This history is woven together through the overarching theme of a gathering place for a religious experience and sense of community. Visitors can look forward to the Jennings’ Lodge exhibit premier on May 17, 2025.

Free admission all day. Museum opens with regular hours. Grand Opening reception begins at 12:00 PM. Check out website at clackamashistory.org for updates and further details.