Trappers and farmers established some of the earliest permanent settlements in the Willamette Valley region, nestled between the Cascade and Coast mountain ranges. The trappers arrived in the early 1800's and some remained and turned to farming. Methodist missionaries who came to minister to the Native Americans in 1834, encouraged further settlement and were the founders of Salem. Missionary leader Jason Lee and his group built a mill on the Mill Creek. In 1842, they founded the first institution of learning in west of the Rockies - The Oregon Institute, which is now known as Willamette University. Salem was originally referred to as Chemeketa, a Calapooya Indian name meaning "place of rest". The missionaries, however, preferred the name "Salem", an anglicized form of the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace". In 1843, an overland migration arrived over the Oregon Trail to settle in the Willamette Valley. The influx of settlers traveling the Oregon Trail increased and agitation for U.S. control of Oregon resulted in the 1846 settlement between the U.S. and Great Britain. This action extablished the 49th parallel as the dividing line between British territory and the United States. The Territory of Oregon, with its capital at Oregon City, was recognized in 1849. When Oregon gained statehood in 1859, Salem was sanctioned as the official capital.
Destination Wilderness -49701 McKenzie Hwy, Vida OR., 97488.. 800-423-8868/541-549-1336 or
Fax: 541-549-1297...Wilderness Web Site
Email Wilderness
Salem Farmers Market
PO Box 13691
Salem, OR 97309
(503) 585-8264
locally grown produce, plants and cut flowers,
along with homemade specialty foods and baked goods, and handcrafted arts and crafts.
AC Gilbert's Discovery Village - 116 Marion St. NE Salem, OR 97301
Call (503)371-3631 or fax: (503)316-3485 e-mail: info@acgilbert.org.
Brooks Historical Society, Inc. - PO Box 9265 Brooks, OR 97305
Call (503)390-0698
Bush House - 600 Mission St. SE Salem, OR 97302
Call (503)363-4714 or fax: (503)371-3342
Friends of Historic Deepwood Estate - 1116 Mission St. SE Salem, OR 97302
Call (503)363-1825
Jensen Arctic Museum - (Western Oregon University) 590 W Church St. Monmouth, OR 97361
Call (503)838-8468 or fax: (503)838-8289
Marion County Historical Society Museum - 260 12th St Salem, OR 97301
Call (503)364-2128 or fax: (503)391-5356 or e-mail: mchs@open.org
Mission Mill Museum - 1313 Mill St. SE Salem, OR 97301
Call (503)585-7012 or fax: (503)588-9902
Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society - PO Box 308 Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Call (503)222-2226
Oregon State Capitol - (Visitor Services) Salem, OR 97310
Call (503)986-1388 or fax: (503)986-1131
Western Antique Powerland - 3995 Brooklake Rd. NE Salem, OR 97303
Call (503)393-2424.