First Bank of Joseph building

The county museum dates this building to 1888 and describes the bank’s occupation of the front portion for approximately 25 years. The structure now houses the museum.

The building’s entry in Oregon’s historic-site inventory provides a second source for identifying the place. Its former and present uses are linked without treating them as the same institution.

The county museum’s history fills in the building’s uses between bank and museum. After the bank, it served as a private school and, from 1913, a private hospital. “In 1927, the City of Joseph acquired the building from the bank and owned it for 50 years”; the Women’s Club of Joseph leased the upstairs, the front room was leased to the American Legion and then to the Forest Service as a ranger station, and “in 1960, the Joseph Chamber of Commerce opened The Chief Joseph Museum in the front room and operated it during summers until 1972.” In 1973 the city moved its office and fire station out and gave the building to the museum.

Also known as: First Bank of Joseph

Through time

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