Oregon History: Chronology - 1851 to 1900
| 1851 | John Preston initiates cadastral land survey system |
| First General Land Office opens in Oregon City | |
| Willamette Valley Treaty Commission negotiates treaties | |
| Teamsters discover in Rogue River Valley | |
| Anson Dart convenes Tansy Point Treaty Council at mouth of Columbia | |
| First U.S. Army post, Fort Orford, built at Port Orford | |
| U.S. Coast Survey begins charting shoreline | |
| 1852 | U.S. Army establishes Fort Dalles on Oregon Trail |
| Congress names Salem capital of Oregon Territory | |
| 1853 | Territorial legislature adopts Oregon law code |
| U.S. Army establishes Fort Lane in Rogue River Valley | |
| Territorial legislature publishes Oregon Archives | |
| Congress funds Scottsburg-Myrtle Creek Wagon Road | |
| Cow Creek and Rogue River Indians negotiate treaties with U. S. | |
| Congress carves Washington Territory out of Oregon Territory | |
| First coal exports begin on southwest Oregon coast | |
| 1854 | Volunteers massacre Coquille Indians |
| Legislature prohibits sale of arms and ammunition to Indians | |
| Legislature prohibits sale of ardent spirits to Indians | |
| Legislature bars testimony of "Negroes, mulattoes, and Indians, or persons one half or more of Indian blood" in proceedings involving a white person | |
| 1855 | Pacific Railroad Surveys examine potential routes |
| Umatilla and Nez Perce tribes sign treaties at Walla Walla Treaty Council, reserving land and rights to food resources | |
| Warms Springs tribes sign treaty reserving land and rights to food resources | |
| Rogue River Indian War commences | |
| Yakima Indian War commences | |
| President James Buchanan creates Siletz Reservation | |
| Territorial capitol burns in Salem | |
| 1856 | U.S. Army establishes Forts Umpqua, Hoskins, and Yamhill |
| President James Buchanan creates Grand Ronde Reservation | |
| U.S. Army orders closure of settlement east of Cascades because of warfare with Indians | |
| 1857 | Constitutional Convention meets in Salem |
| Draft constitution bars African-Americans from residency | |
| Aaron Meier founds Meier & Frank Department Store | |
| 1858 | First election selects state officials |
| 1859 | Congress grants Oregon statehood on February 14 |
| First bank established by Ladd & Tilton in Portland | |
| First elected governor of state, John Whiteaker, inaugurated | |
| 1860 | Census enumerates 52,465 residents |
| Oregon Steam Navigation Company commences service | |
| First daily stage operates between Portland and Sacramento | |
| 1861 | First Oregon State Fair held at Oregon City |
| 1862 | Congress passes Homestead Act |
| First Oregon Cavalry raises six companies | |
| Gold rush commences to Blue Mountains | |
| First portage railroad completed at Cascades | |
| 1863 | U.S. Army establishes Fort Klamath |
| 1864 | Telegraph line connects Portland-Sacramento |
| U.S. Army establishes Camp Watson | |
| Treaty creates Klamath Reservation | |
| Popular vote approves Salem as state capital | |
| 1865 | Long Tom Rebellion confirms pro-southern sympathies |
| Congress authorizes Oregon Central Military Wagon Road | |
| 1866 | First lighthouse--Cape Arago--illuminates light signal |
| U.S. Army establishes Camp Warner | |
| Married Women's Property Act protects women's rights | |
| Congress authorizes Corvallis-Yaquina Bay Military Wagon Road | |
| Congress authorizes Willamette Valley-Cascade Mountain Military Wagon Road | |
| 1867 | U.S. Army establishes Fort Harney |
| Congress authorizes The Dalles-Boise Military Wagon Road | |
| 1868 | Oregon State Agricultural College (OSU) opens |
| 1869 | Direct export of wheat to Europe begins |
| Congress authorizes Coos Bay Military Wagon Road | |
| 1870 | Census enumerates 90,923 residents |
| Abigail Scott Duniway launches suffrage campaign | |
| 1872 | Oregon & California Railroad completes line to Roseburg |
| Modoc Indian War commences | |
| 1873 | Oregon Patrons of Husbandry (Grange) forms chapters |
| Modoc Indians face trial and execution at Fort Klamath | |
| Oregon Pioneer Association forms | |
| 1875 | First U.S. Life-Saving Service station opens near Coos Bay |
| 1876 | University of Oregon opens |
| Robert D. Hume builds salmon cannery on Rogue River | |
| 1877 | Nez Perce Indian War involves Chief Joseph's band |
| Congress passes Desert Land Act | |
| 1878 | High schools authorized for districts with 1,000 students |
| Bannock-Paiute Indian War sweeps into southeastern Oregon | |
| Women gain right to vote in school elections | |
| 1879 | BIA Indian Training School opens in Forest Grove |
| 1880 | Census enumerates 174,768 residents |
| O. R. & N. Company begins railroad through Gorge | |
| 1881 | BIA Chemawa School opens near Salem |
| 1882 | Normal schools open in Monmouth, Ashland, and Drain to train teachers |
| 1883 | O. R. & N. Company railroad reaches Umatilla providing transcontinental links |
| 1884 | Oregon Short Line railroad extends to Huntington |
| 1886 | First woman, Mary Gysin Leonard, gains admittance to law practice |
| Chief Joseph's Nez Perce band locates on Colville Reservation | |
| 1887 | Thugs murder ten Chinese miners in Hells Canyon |
| General Allotment Act assaults tribal lands on reservations | |
| Cranberry harvests commence | |
| 1888 | First Agricultural Experiment Station opens at Corvallis |
| 1890 | Congress passes Oregon Indian Depredation Claims Act |
| Census enumerates 313,767 residents | |
| Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association founded | |
| 1891 | Congress passes Forest Reserve Act |
| 1892 | Congress authorizes Columbia River Lightship No. 50 |
| Portland Art Association forms | |
| 1894 | Mazama Club forms to promote outdoor adventure |
| 1896 | Workmen complete Cascade Locks |
| 1897 | Holdup of '97 blocks state legislature |
| 1898 | Oregon Historical Society receives charter |