Danielle Denham is a writer, photographer, and devoted history buff with a soft spot for Oregon’s forgotten places. Her love of old schoolhouses, abandoned homesteads, and the lives once lived inside them has taken her down back roads across the state. She was featured on OPB’s Oregon Field Guide, exploring the historic Charles Nelson House with a former resident shortly before the home was lost to wildfire. Watch the feature.
At That Oregon Life, Danielle shares local history, good food, memorable adventures, and the quirks that make Oregon home. When she isn’t exploring, you may find her spending time in Eugene with Tyler James and his two awesome kiddos. If there’s an old building with a mysterious past along the way, consider the afternoon’s plans officially derailed.
This past week, Oregon made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. More than 300 animals were seized from the West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon after authorities uncovered a nightmare behind its gates. Investigators described filthy,…
June 4, 2025, marks the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, a 7-year-old boy who vanished from Skyline Elementary School in Northwest Portland, Oregon. Despite extensive investigations, no trace of Kyron has ever been found. Now,…
In what city officials are calling a “revolution in urban sanitation,” Portland will begin installing CrapTrap 3000™ units across the metro area—human-sized, self-cleaning litter boxes designed to address the growing issue of public defecation, and “shaping the future,…
So, you’ve found yourself in Oregon, the land of towering evergreens, infinite Columbia Sportswear jackets, and an IPA selection that makes most 5-star Michelin restaurant wine lists look concise. There’s just one problem: you hate IPA’s. Maybe it’s…
Grace and Hammer is not your average pizzeria. It’s a sacred union of divine wood-fired pizza and history, wrapped up in a vibe that’s as charming as Redmond, Oregon itself. I had the absolute pleasure of visiting this…
If you happen to be in Salem, Oregon, and find yourself craving a giant meatball sub or an authentic Gabagool, Cozzie's NY Deli may just be your ticket to a full belly. Since 2014, this family-owned establishment has…
You may think the comparison to Disneyland is a long shot, but I assure you: it's completely true. Jerry and Lu Parks had big dreams in 1964. They already owned one of the most famous restaurants on the…
Imagine a dark winter night in the Pacific Northwest. The ground beneath your feet begins to tremble, slowly at first, then violently. Trees sway and snap like matchsticks. The ocean retreats, revealing a seafloor few have ever seen.…
Walking into Movie Madness feels like stepping into another time, another world. The scent of old plastic cases mingles with the faint hum of a CRT television playing a classic movie in the corner. Shelves groan under the…
You may think of Myrtle Creek as one of those freeway-side towns you have no reason to visit (unless the kids are bugging you for a bathroom break). Allow me to give you one reason to make a…
A devastating house fire claimed the life of a Junction City resident on the evening of January 8th. Around 7 p.m., Lane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a fire at a residence on the 95400 block of Noraton…
Lane County Sheriff's Search & Rescue teams are continuing their efforts to locate 61-year-old Robert Ray Bennett II, who has been missing since December 28, 2024. Bennett, a resident of Cottage Grove, was last seen standing on the…