Keizer Heritage Museum

10/22/2026

🍎 The Keizurs and others brought apple trees to Keizer!

that soon after settlers started arriving in Washington, they began planting imported types of fruit. Settlers first planted apple trees near Fort Vancouver about 1826 and raspberries near Fort Nisqually in 1833. They used the Pacific crabapple as a pectin source, as well as a pollinator and hardy rootstock for other types of apples.

For , learn more about local fruit tree history on the museum's history blog at https://linkin.bio/jobcarrcabin

Photo of historic marker near The Old Apple Tree at Fort Vancouver, ca. 2019. While the tree died in 2021, its offspring continue to thrive in orchards nearby.

10/22/2026

Keeping Keizer history alive and active!

10/20/2026

Do you know your family tree?

Here’s a fun game to play with your family at Thanksgiving! What’s your score? Share your score in the comments and feel free to download and print it out to quiz your family. Who knows? It might just help gain interest in the family’s history! 🙂

10/14/2026

😄 The seating bench on the back patio of the Keizer cultural center is currently undergoing renovation.

HEADS UP!!!

The seating bench on the back patio of the Keizer cultural center is currently undergoing renovation.

This bench has served as well, built by volunteers, over a quarter century ago.

But the wood has rotted and we’re having to make updates, so be cautious when you’re on the back patio while these updates are underway.

This project should be completed within the next two weeks.

10/14/2026

The beautiful Keizer Rapids Park!
Thanks, KBZY Radio.

10/11/2026

Our McNary Intern Jaslen Maximo is helping us put Thomas, our new interactive Keizer history guide to the test at the Keizer Heritage Museum!

Using Elevenlabs technology visitors can speak directly with Thomas, ask questions in their own words, and explore stories from our curated knowledge base, including the history of our historic Keizer Schoolhouse, The development of Keizer Rapids Park, Keizer community growth and change, the 1964 Christmas Flood, and more.

We’re excited to use this technology to bring Keizer history to life in a more engaging, conversational, and accessible way for visitors of all ages. It’s a new way to make Keizer history feel alive, personal, and fun to explore.

10/10/2026

JUST IN TIME…

For fall reading…

KEIZER PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK SALE!!

10/10/2026

Happening now Saturday!!

Come celebrate the diversity, traditions, food, music, dance, and cultures that make our community special!
📅 When: Saturday, October 10
🕚 Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 Where: Keizer Event Center, 930 Chemawa Rd NE, Keizer, OR 97303
🎭 Entertainment includes:
• Aztec Dance Group
• Rondalla Sentimiento Latino
• Ballet Folkloric Guelaguetza
• The Red Ruby
• Ao Dai Fashion Show
• Indonesian Dancing
🎉 Dignitary and color guard: 11 a.m. to noon, followed by entertainment and learning activities
🍽️ Food: Authentic Hispanic meal, East Indian samplings, and Native American salmon
🌎 Learn about the cultures of your neighbors, including Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, Santali, Hispanic, Native, Slavic, and other cultures.

10/10/2026

History has walked through these schools over the past century! Salem-Keizer Public Schools has announced the proposed schools for closure beginning in the 2027-28 school year. Schools listed by year built:

1908 Liberty
1909 Brush College
1910 Englewood
1911 Richmond
1953 Cummings
1955 Candalaria

No final decisions have been made. The School Board will consider community feedback before making final decisions on school closures, consolidations, and boundary reassignments.

Building condition, maintenance and enrollment drove the decision
Four of the six proposed schools are more than a century old. Liberty, built in 1908, is Salem-Keizer’s oldest building.
“The facilities we’ve chosen are very near the end of their practical life,” Castañeda said.

Under the recommendation, Brush College, Candalaria, Cummings, Englewood, Liberty and Richmond would close ahead of fall 2027. Officials said the closures are necessary to support "responsible facility management and long-term fiscal stability."
https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/schools/closure-consolidation/school-information

https://www.salemreporter.com/2026/10/09/salem-keizer-plans-to-close-six-elementary-schools-heres-the-list

https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/education/2026/10/09/salem-keizer-public-schools-closing-6-elementary/92143716007

Find summaries of proposed 2027–28 elementary school closures, why schools were selected, and what the changes could mean for your student.

10/10/2026

📰 Cummings School opened on Monday, November 11, 1953. The second school was needed to ease crowding at Keizer School.
⚠ October 9, 2026 - Cummings is one of six elementary schools recommended for closure at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Elementary enrollment is low in the McNary High School feeder, which creates programmatic and staffing challenges. Cummings’ facility has inherent educational adequacy challenges, compounded by transportation limitations and equity considerations. The district has a responsibility to invest thoughtfully in buildings that will continue to serve students long-term.
Under the current proposal, students attending Cummings would transition to Keizer or Kennedy. The boundary adjustments would also realign some areas from Kennedy to Gubser and an area of Keizer to Kennedy. All students within the new Gubser boundary will attend Whiteaker. No changes are proposed for the high school boundary. Final school assignments will be determined through the boundary process and are expected to be confirmed in February 2027.
https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/schools/closure-consolidation/school-information

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1791567179/salkeizk12orus/det77fzyxdvzw8mg1gku/school-technical-cummings-en.pdf

Cummings Elementary opened on Monday, November 11, 1953. The second school was needed to ease crowding at Keizer School.