importantly, it tells the stories of the people who have worked and lived at the 130-year-old hospital through artifacts, documents, photographs and audio recordings. For more insight into Salem’s rich past, follow John Ritter’s Stories of the Underground & Downtown Salem Lore Tour. Created by a local historian, this self-guided experience uncovers the city’s hidden history — including 1800s life in a bustling underground world of vaults, tunnels, opium dens and a vibrant Chinese community. MUSEUMS IN THE REGION The Salem area has an intriguing heritage, brought to life through excellent museums and historic homes. Start your journey at Hangar C at McNary Field, home to the B-17 Alliance Foundation Museum and restoration facility. Here you can watch volunteers restore the B-17 Flying Fortress, known as the “Lacey Lady,” to airworthy condition. The museum also features uniforms, equipment and photographs of the men and women who served during World War II. Learn about Oregon’s forestry legacy at Salem’s Forest History Center, a museum and archive with exhibits on fire lookouts, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and historic logging and firefighting tools. Just North of Salem, the pioneering spirit lives on at the Keizer Heritage Museum, a 19th-century schoolhouse turned museum that preserves the town’s rural history. The 1852 home of early Oregon leader Robert Newell now serves as the Robert Newell House Museum. Head to St. Paul, a small town famous for its summer rodeo, to explore this historic home along with other heritage sites within the Newell Pioneer Village. Browse pioneer artifacts, including mid-19th-century furniture, and don’t miss the fascinating “First Ladies of Oregon” gown collection, which includes dresses dating back to 1849. For something delightfully offbeat, visit the Mount Angel Abbey Museum in St. Benedict. Founded in 1882 by Swiss Benedictine monks, it features an eclectic array of curiosities — from the largest known porcine (pig) hairball to unusual artifacts from around the world. While there, stop by the Benedictine Brewery, one of the few monk-owned breweries in the United States with its own on-site tasting room. In Rickreall, the Polk County Museum highlights regional history from 1842 to 1960, including stories of the Kalapuya Tribe and pioneers who traveled the Oregon Trail. Its extensive archives make it a popular stop for genealogy research. Nearby in Independence, the Independence Heritage Museum shares how the town rose to prominence as the hop capital of the world. Head to the Jefferson Historical Society & Museum to see the area’s rich past through rotating exhibits set in the historic Conser House, which dates back to 1854. INDIGENOUS HISTORY Long before Europeans settled in the mid-Willamette Valley area, the land west of Salem was home to the Kalapuya people. Today, the Kalapuya and their descendants, members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, have returned to their ancestral homeland, preserving and sharing their culture and traditions with future generations. Visitors can explore this heritage through museums and cultural centers that bring Indigenous stories to life. Begin your journey at the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center in Grand Ronde, which chronicles the history of the Kalapuya people and the broader Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. The museum showcases a remarkable collection of historical artifacts, including hand-carved canoes, traditional tools and regalia. Continue your exploration in downtown Salem at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, home to an outstanding collection of Native American art from across the Pacific Northwest. Exhibits spotlight ceremonial regalia and contemporary works — including paintings, prints and sculptures by acclaimed Northwest Native artists. Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center 15 TravelSalem.com
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