1. On November 26, 1785, fur trader Alexander Mackenzie became the first known European to reach the Pacific Ocean via overland travel when he arrived at Bella Coola in what is now British Columbia. This expedition opened up trade routes between the Pacific Northwest and Europe, leading to the establishment of fur trading posts throughout Oregon and the surrounding regions.

2. In 1849, Joel Palmer became superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon. As part of his efforts to establish peaceful relations with Native American tribes, Palmer signed a treaty with the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes on November 26, 1855, establishing a reservation for them in northeastern Oregon. Today, that reservation is still home to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

3. On November 26, 1956, the Oregon State Beavers football team set a school record for most points scored in a game when they beat the University of Idaho 77-7. The Beavers' starting quarterback, Dick Norman, threw seven touchdown passes in the game, which is still the highest total in school history.

4. In 1979, Governor Victor Atiyeh signed a proclamation designating November 26 as "Oregon Heritage Day." This day is meant to recognize and celebrate the rich history and cultural heritage of Oregon and its people.

5. On November 26, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act. This act designated 170,000 acres of Oregon's Steens Mountain as a wilderness area, and established a cooperative management structure between the Bureau of Land Management, the local community, and Native American tribes. The act is seen as a model for collaborative conservation efforts in the United States.