The historic Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum honors one of the oldest standing smokejumper bases in the world and the people who protected this area.
The Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum is a 501C3 nonprofit organization based in Cave Junction, Oregon. Its main organizers and board members include many of the original Siskiyou Smokejumpers as well as community members and aviation enthusiasts alike.
The Siskiyou Smokejumper Base (affectionately called "The Gobi" by former firefighters) was operational as a Forest Service smokejumper fire base from 1943-1981. The entire airport and base were given to Josephine County in 1987 and over the years the buildings slowly deteriorated due to insufficient care. After going through several different business leases, county officials and the former county airport manager wanted to bulldoze the entire base and all the trees that the jumpers had planted during their time there, thereby destroying a unique and important piece of the pacific northwest's cultural heritage. At this time, the close-knit Gobi jumpers along with community advocates pulled together to save and restore the beloved base to its original condition, and to preserve its future by sharing their stories of lifelong friendship and career heroism against the odds.
