Gorgeous day. Beautiful drive.
An impromptu field trip to a nearby location we had never yet visited: Thompson’s Flour Mill.Oregon’s oldest (1858) surviving water-powered mill.A private tour (just the boys, my mom, and I).Lots of history, science, and hands-on activities.Grinding wheat with a millstone. Sifting flour. Operating grain elevators and augers.Weighing all the boys on a large scale. Turning large gears. Building a wall with wooden pegs.Our delightful tour guide even powered up the mill for us so we could see the grain elevators and gears in motion!The Oregon State Parks Department has turned it into a beautifully restored Heritage Site.
I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area!
