Rogue River Valley, Oregon - Southern Oregon is divided into three main river basins; the Umpqua River, the Rogue River, and the Klamath Basin. The Umpqua meets the Pacific at Reedsport, the Rogue mouth is near Gold Beach, and the Klamath empties at the Redwoods National Park in Northern California. All three rivers have their headwaters in the Cascade Mountains on the slopes of Crater Lake, Oregon's only national park. The Rogue River is a designated National Scenic River, and formed much of the backdrop for the Meryl Streep movie "The River Wild." Jet boat trips and white water rafting are very popular.

Rogue River Valley

Rogue River Valley, Oregon - A beautiful place to visit, a wonderful place to live. Come and find a place to call your own. Southern Oregon is a great place to own a home and grow your family.

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Articles from the Historical Society in Josephine County Oregon

Oregon Cavemen - Oregon Cavemen Inc of Grants Pass

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As I was pulling off the freeway heading south on Sixth Street last week, I glanced over at the huge Grants Pass Caveman statue in Caveman Park. I recalled Memorial Day of 1971 when the statue was dedicated with former Chief Bighorn, State Senator Debbs Potts on hand for the ceremony. The event once again placed Grants Pass on the national stage.

Although the organization is not as visible as it once was, the statue represents a place in history that was a very important part of Josephine County. The Oregon Caveman booster organization was given birth in early 1922. That summer, as a gag a few members of the local Chamber of Commerce decided to show up for a luncheon at the Oxford (Del Rogue) Hotel wearing skins and long straggly hair wigs.

Those members present laughed and listened while their fur clad fellow businessmen proclaimed to have domain over the county and especially their home, the world famous Oregon Caves. All thought this would be a great way to advertise and promote tourism of Josephine Count to the rest of the nation. They were incorporated as a unit in October of 1922, officially given the name of Oregon Cavemen Inc. of Grants Pass, Oregon. Madison Avenue gurus, with all their financial backing, couldn't have put together a more attention-grabbing scheme. The Cavemen accompanied by their Queen were a zany bunch of businessmen who would pop up unexpectedly anyplace or anytime at major events in or out of state wearing their furs, clubs and feared Neanderthal scowls. They were real showstoppers, and so nervy, you didn't care if your event was interrupted while they advertised Josephine County and all it represented. More often than not, they improved the event. The list of bizarre stunts they performed grew legendary. They stormed the stage of a famed Broadway musical "Hellzapoppin" in the middle of a performance. Continued - Part 2

Mad Bull an Indian from Happy Camp, after winning the San Francisco to Grants Pass Redwood Empire Association Marathon in 1927.

Rogue River Valley, Oregon - The Siskiyou Mountains stretch between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range at the California border. The entire area is more vertical than most other parts of the state, which leads to numerous waterfalls, lots of whitewater rapids, and some spectacular scenery. Rogue River Valley is outside the main population centers of the state and the area has a very rural flavor. Major industries are tourism, wood products and agriculture. The climate is generally milder and more Mediterranean than North Western Oregon. Average rainfallis about 20 % lower and the temperatures are a bit higher.