25 YEARS OF ABERNETHY CENTER - FROM THE OREGON TRAIL AND US MAIL TO WEDDING VEILS
October 15th, 2026 marks Abernethy Center’s quarter of a century in excellence and elegance as a premier Oregon event venue. From a single event venue in a remodeled post office to eight-acres and three designated venues - our journey is that of dedication to our guests, pride in our service, and a love for every heartfelt moment our patrons share. With every year that passes, we at Abernethy Center reflect on how we have become one of Oregon’s most trusted and sought after venues, for celebrations of every size and purpose.
The answer is simple - TRUST.
For the past 25 years our clients have entrusted us with their most special and memorable moments.
They trust us as experts in our field to guide and support them in having their visions come to life.
They trust our incredible team to facilitate and manage every detail.
They trust our chefs to prepare innovative, fresh, classic dishes that wow their guests.
“From the very first time we visited to view the venue, they made us feel special … I felt supported through every step of the process!”
MEGAN WILSON
And this trust was built on a foundation of integrity, care and consistency. So many magical nights, company parties, and nuptials have been celebrated with us. We wanted to take a moment to recognize some of our greatest milestones in the last 25 years and how our history has shaped our facility and established us as one of the most beloved and valued venues in the Oregon community.
BEFORE ABERNETHY - 1840
As the premier wedding and events venue of Oregon City - the Abernethy Center serves as an inviting gateway to new visitors to learn about this historic town! Our venue is named after George Abernethy, Oregon’s first and only provisional governor before Oregon officially joined the United States. A businessman and a philanthropist, George established industry in Oregon City and later in life, donated to multiple institutions focusing on providing women with a source for higher education. While George may have traveled to Oregon by sea, Abernethy Center is located less than a five-minute walk from the famous “The End of the Oregon Trail” site, recognized as the end of the pivotal 2000-mile journey.
For more info on the amazing history of Oregon City – check out the Museum of the Oregon Territory – located only a mile from the Abernethy Center!
BALLROOM - 2001
The first step on our personal “Oregon Trail” was the acquisition of the old Oregon City Post Office. Once a sleepy post office in need of repairs flourished into a bustling event venue hosting weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings for guests close to home and around the world! One of our proudest achievements is the fact that we have been a beloved wedding venue for long enough to host decade and longer anniversaries for our couples married on the site!
Fun Fact: Very occasionally we get letters with postage left in our mailbox - and even visitors to our office holding parcels who remember us as the old postal service.
THEN
NOW
ABIGAIL’S GARDEN - 2004
Our designated outdoor venue has only become lusher in the last two decades and has hosted so many beautiful weddings in the temperate summer days of the PNW. One of our favorite sights for our OG staff has been watching our little willow tree located behind the Abigail’s Garden gazebo flourish into a monumental beauty that our couples fall in love with instantly on our venue tours. What was once a venture to provide couples an outdoor space to say their “I do’s” has become our most sought-after venue for weddings!
THEN
NOW
Fun Fact: Abigail’s Garden is named after Abigail Scott Duniway, a pioneer for women’s suffrage in the PNW, who was buried in Oregon City.
VEILED GARDEN - 2007
Hidden next to our chapel, the Veiled Garden was created as an intimate, secluded spot for couples to be wed surrounded by the perpetual greenery only available in the PNW. A detail only noticeable by the keen-eyed is the little untouched stream that runs parallel to the ceremony site is actually a recognized Pacific Lamprey crossing! With a face that only a mother lamprey could love, lampreys are an unbelievably important animal to the history of Indigenous peoples of the lower Columbia River as a critical food source. Oregon City even has an annual Lamprey Celebration at Clackamette Park to celebrate the lovely little lampreys!
Fun fact: When not in use for events, our staff likes to take a moment to decompress or relax in the Veiled Garden, making the site a cherished location for everyone who works here!
CHAPEL - 2012
Our biggest endeavor to date, Abernethy Center opted to design and build a classic Chapel for a more traditional and timeless space for events and wedding ceremonies. From a simple sketch to a romantic white monolith of matrimony - the chapel bell bongs (and the occasional Ring) can be heard throughout Oregon City as newlyweds celebrate nearly every weekend with us!
THEN
NOW
Fun Fact: While our Chapel may be a modern construction, our chapel bell is actually from the 19th century!
REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIES
While we could go on and on about the historic importance of our beloved Oregon City and the memories left from our past - our greatest achievement started day one.
The unforgettable memories we made for the future.
Every moment at Abernethy Center - whether it be a kiss under the willow tree, a toast in the ballroom, or a parade down the Chapel stairs creates important memories that will also define the future of the historic community we are part of. We are honored to help our guests create meaningful and intimate celebrations of all sizes - taking pride in the fact that our guests trust our services is almost as great as the love for each other. Over our 25 years of impeccable, all-inclusive events we have garnered countless reviews praising our hosting and catering aptitude - but don’t just take it from us - hear it from the words of our actual guests.
“Abernethy Center Words truly can’t describe how much we loved getting married here. The grounds are beautiful, the staff is wonderful, and the food is delicious. From our very first tour to our grand exit at the end of the night, we felt incredibly well taken care of and completely at home.”
JAMES DEGROOT
“Beautiful building, inside and out and wonderful for comp or agency functions! The food services staff here are top shelf professionals who are friendly and very accommodating … All around, this place is A+++!”
JOHN AVALOS
“I really enjoyed the Veiled Garden stream. The water temperature was an optimal 68°F for spawning”
LAMPREY
(Entosphenus Tridentatus)
With a storied history, we cannot wait to continue writing new chapters for our guests. Here’s to another 25 years from everyone here at Abernethy Center
SCHEDULE A TOUR
Now that you have had the historical tour of our grounds, how about learning how to tour our venues for your future? Schedule a tour and discover why Abernethy Center is one of Oregon's most beloved all-inclusive wedding venues in the PNW.
Discover why so many couples choose Abernethy Center as their preferred Portland-area wedding venue and let our experienced team help bring your wedding vision to life.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Follow @abernethycenter on Instagram to see our stunning Oregon weddings and get a peek behind the scenes with our amazing team. Join us for daily inspiration and all the fun!