Willamette Heritage Center

Willamette Heritage Center Serene 5-acre site connecting generations with historic museum exhibits, shopping, restaurant, and event rental venues. 📍Salem, OR
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The Willamette Heritage Center is a non-profit museum located in Salem, Oregon. Formed from the merger of two established historical organizations (the Mission Mill Museum and the Marion County Historical Society) the WHC collects, cares for, interprets, showcases, and promotes understanding of an education about the history of the Mid-Willamette Valley region, including Marion County and the grea

ter Salem area. It is anchored by the historic early settlement buildings dating to the 1840s, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and its archival and library holdings.

If you had to pick one to explore, which would you choose?🚂 Caboose #507🏭 Thomas Kay Woolen Mill🏠 Historic Houses🧶 Text...
06/17/2026

If you had to pick one to explore, which would you choose?

🚂 Caboose #507
🏭 Thomas Kay Woolen Mill
🏠 Historic Houses
🧶 Textile Learning Center

Tell us your pick below and why!

Photo credit: .woods.photography

06/17/2026

is a perfect chill evening for everyone! Big thank you to Rich Swanger for performing tonight and for hosting with us.

Happening every other Tuesday, the next performance is Tuesday, June 30th, and our performers are Jake & the Hill People. We hope to see you there!

Tickets are available at willametteheritage.org/music-at-the-mill/ or the door.

This Friday, commemorate Juneteenth by walking through Salem’s history and honoring the stories of those who helped shap...
06/16/2026

This Friday, commemorate Juneteenth by walking through Salem’s history and honoring the stories of those who helped shape our community.

In Freedom’s Footsteps is a community history walk that follows the lives and legacies of Salem’s early Black residents through the places they lived, worked, worshiped, and built community. This year’s walk highlights William P. Johnson and Elizabeth Walker, whose family left a lasting mark on Salem through entrepreneurship, advocacy, and education.

📅 Friday, June 19
🕘 Guided walks at 9 AM, 10 AM, 11:15 AM, and 12:15 PM
📍 Willamette Heritage Center
💲 Free (suggested donation of $5)

Guided walks are limited to the first 50 participants at each time slot. Self-guided brochures will be available from 9 AM–4 PM.

Take a step into local history and help celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of Salem’s early Black community.

Learn more here: https://www.willametteheritage.org/freedomsfootsteps/

This event is hosted by WHC in partnership with Oregon Black Pioneers and Just Walk Salem. Sponsored in part by Cherriots and Salem Foundation.

Commemorate America's 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and step into history throu...
06/15/2026

Commemorate America's 250th anniversary since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and step into history through a new lens at our next Curator-Led Tour!

On July 3 at 10 AM, join our curator for a special guided exploration of Echoes of ’76, an exhibit examining how the events of 1776 continue to resonate in the Mid-Willamette Valley today.

Discover the people, languages, traditions, and stories that connect our community to America’s founding era—and learn how the bicentennial celebrations of 1976 helped shape the museum you know today.

Along the way, you'll have the chance to share your own hopes for the future on our interactive Wish Wall.

Tours are included with museum admission, and WHC members always visit free.
📅 Friday, July 3 at 10 AM
📍 Willamette Heritage Center

🎬 Experience the drama, debate, and music behind America's founding story!Join us at Salem Cinema for a special communit...
06/12/2026

🎬 Experience the drama, debate, and music behind America's founding story!

Join us at Salem Cinema for a special community screening of 1776 benefiting the WHC as we continue to commemorate the Semiquincentennial—America's 250th anniversary.

More than just a movie, this event includes a fascinating post-film Q&A with historian Professor Seth Cotlar, who will explore the real people, politics, and controversies behind the Declaration of Independence. Bring your questions and discover how the story on screen compares to the history that shaped a nation.

Professor Cotlar specializes in the history of the United States spanning from the American Revolution through the Civil War and is the award-winning author of Tom Paine's America: The Rise and Fall of Trans-Atlantic Radicalism in the Early Republic.

About the film:
1776 brings the nation's founders to life through memorable songs, sharp wit, and spirited debate as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and their fellow delegates struggle to forge a new nation and declare independence from Great Britain.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a fan of classic musicals, or simply curious about America's founding, this is a unique opportunity to watch, learn, and join the conversation.

Get Tickets Here: https://www.salemcinema.com/movie/1776

Then and Now 549 Kingwood Dr NWIn 1956, the house at 549 Kingwood Dr NW belonged to Glenn and Lou McCormick who ran .The...
06/11/2026

Then and Now 549 Kingwood Dr NW

In 1956, the house at 549 Kingwood Dr NW belonged to Glenn and Lou McCormick who ran .

Then Photo: McEwan Photo Studio. WHC Collections 2006.002.1112.004

Now Photo: Google Maps August 2015

Learn more about the Kingwood Heights/Cascade Terraces Additions in West Salem here: https://www.willametteheritage.org/kingwood-heights-cascade-terraces-brochure/

Music at the Mill continues next Tuesday! 🎶Join us on June 16 from 6–8 PM as we welcome Rich Swanger to the Willamette H...
06/10/2026

Music at the Mill continues next Tuesday! 🎶

Join us on June 16 from 6–8 PM as we welcome Rich Swanger to the Willamette Heritage Center for an evening of live music, community, and summer vibes.

Bring a lawn chair, gather your friends, grab food and beverages from Lively at the Mill, and enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by the historic beauty of the Mill.

Music at the Mill is hosted by WHC in partnership with Lively at the Mill.

🎟 Get tickets: https://www.willametteheritage.org/music-at-the-mill/

🍓 The Berry Pass is back, and we're excited to be a participating attraction for Summer 2026!Bring your Berry Pass and e...
06/09/2026

🍓 The Berry Pass is back, and we're excited to be a participating attraction for Summer 2026!

Bring your Berry Pass and explore the stories, exhibits, and history of the Willamette Valley at the Willamette Heritage Center.

📅 Berry Passes are valid June 1–September 7, 2026.

Berry Pass admission details at WHC:
• Valid for one (1) single admission per day during regular business hours
• Each child must have their own Berry Pass for entry
• Adults must purchase standard museum admission

Make plans to visit us this summer and discover Oregon history through interactive exhibits, historic buildings, and hands-on learning opportunities!

Still need your pass? Get it here: https://www.marionberriesbaseball.com/berrypass

Hear from our very own Kylie Pine at this upcoming talk!
06/09/2026

Hear from our very own Kylie Pine at this upcoming talk!

Address

1313 Mill Street SE, Ste 200
Salem, OR
97301

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

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