1859 Oregon's Magazine

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1859 Oregon's Magazine is a bi-monthly lifestyle magazine based in Bend, Oregon, with the motto “Live, Think, Explore.” It started in Bend in the summer of 2009, founded by Kevin Max and Heather Johnson. Kevin Max is the chief content officer. He moved from New York City, where he worked as a financial journalist, and started the magazine after being inspired by the year Oregon became a state (1859) and by that year’s place on the Oregon state flag.

Even in a tough economy, the magazine succeeded, helped by strong distribution in Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Whole Foods. The debut issue printed 30,000 copies. 1859 covers arts, culture, adventure, and exploration across the whole state, not just one region or city. It began as a quarterly publication and became bi-monthly in 2012. In 2017, the sister publication 1889 Washington’s Magazine was launched to cover statewide culture in Washington.

Statehood Media publishes both magazines to keep exploring Oregon’s statewide culture and community. Most content comes from freelance writers and photographers, with some material produced by staff. Topics range from the Pacific Coast to the high desert and include both current and historical stories. The magazine has been described as “a National Geographic for the state of Oregon,” celebrating the state’s recreation, ecology, history, and entrepreneurship. It highlights people like sustainability pioneers, bike enthusiasts, techies, Native Americans, cowboys, financiers, and vintners.

1859 promotes sustainability with soy-based ink and supports wildlife protection through a campaign with Oregon Wild that donates half of a subscription price to conservation. In April 2011, it was nominated for a Maggie Award for Best New Quarterly Magazine. In 2020, 1859 won Maggie Awards for Best Consumer Publication and Best State/Regional Publication, while its sister publication won Best Special Interest Publication that year.