SALEM IS MOPO HISTORY Joshua Rainey history in salem In Salem, take a stroll around the landscaped Capitol Mall grounds, also known as Willson Park, which features roses, cherry trees, and dozens of statues and monuments that commemorate the state’s history. Pick up a self-guided walking-tour map and explore the fountains, the 33-foot World War II Memorial and the tribal walk of flags, which pays tribute to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. Just east of the Capitol, the Salem Downtown Historic District showcases more than 40 preserved buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Don’t miss the architectural details in this sevenblock district, constructed from bricks made at the state prison between 1880 and 1930. Keep your eyes peeled for purple tiles on the ground — these are skylights from the underground tunnel system of the 1800s. As the original home of pioneer entrepreneur Asahel Bush and his family from 1878 to 1953, Bush House Museum at Bush’s Pasture Park preserves the cultural diversity of Salem’s history. The 100-acre farmstead is a portion of the donation land claim established on the ancestral lands of the Kalapuya Tribe in the early 1840s. Visitors can explore the Bush Conservatory and its surrounding nature trails and gardens. Just next door is Deepwood Museum & Gardens, a historic Queen Anne home situated on a 5-acre public park with formal gardens, nature trails, a greenhouse and an original carriage house. Visitors can hike the easy Rita Steiner Frye Nature Trail, which leads to Pringle Creek and separates Deepwood from Bush’s Pasture Park. Immerse yourself in history at the 5-acre Willamette Heritage Center, where 14 historic structures and changing exhibits offer peeks into the lives of the Euro-American missionaries and immigrants who settled in the mid-Willamette Valley in the 1840s. Explore the research library, experience life in what was once a leading textile factory in Oregon, and visit the retail shops and art galleries. The Gothic architecture of the nearly century-old Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem is itself a work of art, but the real magic happens on its historic stage. Known for its great acoustics, the Elsinore hosts all types of performances — music from local and national acts, theater, comedy, symphonic performances and more. Take a guided tour and see the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, the largest theater organ in the Pacific Northwest, and learn about the theater’s history. The Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health in Salem may be famously known as the filming location of the 1975 film “One Flew Willamette Heritage Center TravelSalem.com 14
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