The Grants Pass Caveman and Southern Oregon Real Estate
150 years ago the State of Oregon joined the United States of America and beginning in the early 1880’s, Grants Pass began to grow as a community. Today, the Josephine County Historical Society keeps track of Grants Pass history, both past and present.
When visitors arrive by car and approach Grants Pass from the north I-5 exit, they are greeted by a towering 18 foot tall statue of the Grants Pass mascot, the Caveman, seen pictured as part of this blog. Often those from out-of-town searching for Southern Oregon real estate wonder about the Caveman and his history.
In the early 1900’s, perhaps because of the influence of the nearby historic Oregon Caves in Cave Junction or perhaps because of the Caveman’s rugged nature and competitive spirit, the Caveman earned the support of the local Grants Pass population and by1922, the Caveman became the town’s mascot. At the time, the local entrepreneurs decided it would be a boost for local business to parade through town like Cavemen, wearing animal skins and furs and carrying the traditional caveman club as a symbol of the Grants Pass commitment to its ancestral roots.
But as Southern Oregon real estate attracted more new residents, the Caveman as an icon began to draw criticism from growing numbers of Grants Pass residents and business owners. By the year 2000, there began a gentle shift away from the Caveman as a promotional icon and toward the mighty Rogue River as a destination for white-water rafting, fishing, and jet boat excursions. Today the city motto reads, “Where the Rogue River Runs.”
But the true test of community loyalty and popularity remains with the Caveman. To the present date, the Grants Pass High School mascot continues to be the Caveman, and when the Grants Pass sports teams compete, they’re known as the Cavemen and the Lady Cavers.
And then there’s Bigfoot…
A Socially Conscious Real Estate Consultant
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 2:00 pm and is filed under the category Grants Pass Real Estate, Green Real Estate, Michael Masters, Real Estate, Southern Oregon Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
