Help Finish the Chairs!

A plaque on your restored chair. Only $650 for a limited time!

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Help us preserve the splendor of the the Oregon Caves National Monument + Preserve!

Protect the Splendor

of the National Monument + Preserve
Over 4,000 acres of wild beauty in the northern Siskiyou Mountains.

Preserve the Wonder

of the Oregon Caves
Three miles of unique marble passages a million years in the making.

Restore the Grandeur

of the Historic Chateau
One of only three Great Lodges in Oregon and a National Historic Landmark lodge, to boot!

Join the Friends

of the Oregon Caves and Chateau
We're raising awareness and collecting donations to ensure future generations will have the opportunity to experience the unique history embodied at the Oregon Caves National Monument + Preserve.
The Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau
in partnership with the
Oregon Caves National Monument + Preserve

We invite you to help us
complete our work

Though the Chateau remains closed for renovation, the Monument, hiking trails and all cave tours have returned to normal. We are looking forward to the next season of cave tours starting in March 2023.

During the closures of the past two years, we made great headway on Chateau restoration projects we'd never be able to accomplish otherwise. However, much work remains...
Check out Our Current Restoration Projects

Current Giving Opportunities

For the foreseeable future, the number-one goal of the Friends is to raise funds that will help us complete the huge list of projects we're currently undertaking.
Support the Preservation of Historical Character

Many of the Chateau’s original features, systems and interiors require upgrading to allow the Chateau to realize its historic grandeur.

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Rebuild the Lost Dining Chairs

Honor Ron Fox's Legacy and Sponsor a Rebuilt Dining Chair

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Restore the Beautiful Wood Floors

A one-time opportunity to bring back the wood floors throughout the Chateau.

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Restore the Original Lighting Throughout

Light up the Chateau with your donation!

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Bring Back the Balconies

Return the public balconies to their original grandeur.

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Restore the Iconic Monterey Furniture Collection

The Chateau’s historic Monterey furniture collection is believed to be the largest public collection in the Northwest.

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Restore the Creek in the Dining Room

Help rebuild the streambed that flows through the downstairs formal dining room!

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Support the Friends

In order to continue our work, we need to fund not only our specific restoration projects, but the management and administration of the Friends as well. Please consider making a donation to help us "keep the lights on" while we work toward the day when we can all visit our beautifully-restored Chateau.

Learn More

Share in our Success

Your support has empowered the Friends to complete dozens of projects. Here are our most high-profile success stories. Enjoy!

Saving the Historic Features of the Chateau

Your support has helped us to build needed expertise and to strengthen the organization. As we begin planning for the first phase of the Capital Campaign, we will continue to depend on you. We strive to continue to earn your support.
Read the Story »

Little D Restoration is nearly complete

Little D Before... Progress Little D After The restoration of Little D (Little Diner– a former staff cafeteria) – to become a community, meeting space and classroom,  the first of  the […]
Read the Story »

Little D Gets an Upgrade

The Friends’ current project is the rehabilitation of Little D, the former staff dining area, located on the 2nd basement level.  Built to feed the original cave guides, college students who worked […]
Read the Story »

Oregon Caves Chateau - restoration has begun!

The Oregon Caves Historic District is a complex of significant rustic buildings built between 1922 and 1942 to accommodate guests and operations at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. […]
Read the Story »

Trove of Monterey Furniture Discovered and Donated

After a visit to the Oregon Caves, Robert and Jill Wilson were cleaning out the home of Bob's mother after she passed away and realized she had a full bedroom of […]
Read the Story »

Chateau Restoration Campaign Underway

The Friends has launched a comprehensive capmaign to restore the Chateau to its original grandeur. We will be replacing light fixtures with faithful reproductions, restoring our collection of Monterey Furniture, and finalizing the complete restoration of our model room. Please read on to find out the details and see giving opportunities for the Campaign.
Read the Story »

NPS to Undertake Life, Safety and Accessibility Upgrade at the Chateau

The National Park Service (NPS) has started the Environmental Assessment for the restoration of the Chateau. This is part of a phased planning process for a major Capital Campaign with an official kick off planned in 2013. The common goal is for the NPS to begin their Life, Safety and Accessibility restoration in 2016 at the same time the Friends Partner projects will support the structural restoration, plus the authentic restoration of the lobby, public areas and guest rooms.
Read the Story »

    We've Been Perfecting Social Distancing for over 100 years.......

    The Monument + Preserve are currently closed in response to statewide efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.

    While we all miss the peaceful and scenic drive to the Oregon Caves, we are grateful to park leadership for acting quickly to postpone tours and protect staff and volunteers during this time. We will continue to plan for the future as we wait all out the isolation procedures.

    As we do, we will be dreaming of the fresh air and quiet magic you find at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve.
    Though the Chateau is expected to be closed two years, the Friends critical efforts continue. 
    We have a unique opportunity to restore the lodge to its former glory and leave a significant legacy. In order to continue our work, we need to fund not only our specific restoration projects, but the management and administration of the Friends as well. We still have lease payments for our Monterey furniture storage, executive and administrative salaries, website and mailing costs...

    Please consider making a donation to help us "keep the lights on" while we work toward the day when we can again visit the National Monument + Preserve and our beautifully-restored Chateau.
    Donate now to help us continue our work

    Stories from the Monument + Preserve

    We have plenty of stories to tell. Here are some of them.
    May 20, 2020
    Monterey Furniture with Oregon Roots

    The original Monterey Furniture collection - designed for movie stars like Clark Gable, Gene Autrey, and Will Rogers was purchased from Meier and Frank in Portland. For decades, the retail dynasty created by Aaron Meier […]

    August 10, 2017
    Marvels of Marble at Oregon Caves

    Thanks to Christine Sherk from the Eugene Register-Guard for a special story about the amazing adventures at the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. Enjoy a  wonderful sense of history, […]

    July 16, 2017
    Little D Gets an Upgrade

    The Friends’ current project is the rehabilitation of Little D, the former staff dining area, located on the 2nd basement level.  Built to feed the original cave guides, college students who worked […]

    November 22, 2015
    Grants Pass Courier - Restore Oregon

    http://www.thedailycourier.com/articles/2015/11/21/front_page_news/news000001.txt

    September 13, 2015
    Birthplace of the View Master - purchase a Commemorative Set.....

    The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve is the official birthplace of the View Master. Oregon inventor and photographer, William B. Gruber and the VP of the Postcard Division of Sawyers, Harold J. Graves happened to meet at the Oregon Caves in 1938 and designed the 3D viewer over dinner.

    July 26, 2013
    Help us tell the story of the Oregon Caves

    An important part of our work is to gather and share memories and experiences of the Oregon Caves and Chateau.

    Please send us photos and stories of you and your family's visits to the Caves. Or if you worked here, were a part of the CCC camp or the Oregon Caves Company, please share those memories.

    These are very important recollections for us!

    History & grandeur. Now closer to you.
    (But not too close...)

    We've brought little pieces of the Caves and Chateau in to local Historical Societies and other places to make it easier for you to explore the history of the Caves and Chateau.

    Hopefully, this inspires you to visit us in Cave Junction!

    Josephine County Historical Society

    Monterey Furniture Restoration Shop in Downtown Grants Pass

    Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce

    Oregon Historical Society, Downtown Medford

    Upcoming Events

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