At some point in 2010 I realized that with my Multnomah County library card I had access to The Oregonian Historical Archive, among other research databases and sites. That realization gave me the bright idea to write a “Day in History” post for every day in 2011. I started innocently enough on January 1st. Ends up writing the pieces was the easy part – for most posts I didn’t delve into the topic too deeply. But the project ended up to be much more of a time sink than I had anticipated. Some days it was easy to find a historical event to write about, other days it took me literally hours to find something. But thanks to my obsessive compulsive tendencies I completed the task, with my final post on December 31, 2011.

Below is the list of the February historical events, assembled here in one place for your edification and amusement. (I’ve also assembled January’s list – look for a new list of events on the first of each month this year!)

February 1, 2010: Streetcar Tracks Laid on Portland’s Eastside
February 2, 1950: Temperature in Portland Drops to Minus Three
February 3, 1892: “Sharp Earthquake” Strikes Portland
February 4, 1999: The New Carissa Runs Aground
February 5, 1846: Oregon Gets its First Printed Newspaper
February 6, 1961: OPB First Airs
February 7, 1841: The First Champoeg Meeting
February 8, 1853: Oregon and Washington Territories Part Ways
February 9, 1996: Flood Waters Subside
February 10, 1996: OR&N 197 Removed from Oaks Park
February 11, 1990: Arlington Club Admits Women
February 12, 1927: Oregon, My Oregon Adopted State Song
February 13, 1913: Mimi Runs Aground on Nehalem Spit
February 14: Portland’s Union Station Opens its Doors
February 15, 1934: OLCC Opens First Liquor Stores
February 16, 1893: First Electric Interurban Connects Portland and Oregon City
February 17, 1913: Oregon Enacts First Minimum Wage Law
February 18, 1891: Port of Portland Established
February 19, 1903: St. Johns Incorporated as City
February 20, 1891: North Yamhill Incorporated
February 21, 1887: Oregon Passes Country’s First Labor Day Legislation
February 22, 1819: Adams-Onís Treaty Cedes Oregon to the United States
February 23, 1877: The Oregon Electoral College Controversy Resolved
February 24, 1967: Portland Built Car Ferry “Hiyu” Launches
February 25, 1919: Oregon Taxes Gasoline
February 26, 1925: Oregon Decides on a Flag
February 27, 1851: William Sargent Ladd Heads West
February 28, 1944: Portland Delivers First Victory Ship