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.

08/28/2026

🌞 ONE LAST SUMMER NIGHT AT THE MILL! 🎶

We’re sending summer off with one last night of Music at the Mill, Tuesday, September 8, at 6pm — and we’re making it extra easy to join us. 💃

🎟️ Get HALF OFF tickets when you purchase online ahead of time!�That’s just $5 online (or $10 at the door).

Come enjoy live music, good vibes, yummy food from Lively at the Mill, and a summer evening at your favorite historic venue.

Grab your $5 tickets online and meet us at the mill!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/summer-music-series

We looked through our archives and found this gem just in time for . We hope you get a walk in with your fur baby today...
08/26/2026

We looked through our archives and found this gem just in time for . We hope you get a walk in with your fur baby today!

Photo Source: Bob Smith and canine pal, November 1965. Jesten-Miller Photography Studio. WHC Collections 2006.006 Negative Number 610.

Bring Your Next Gathering to the WHC!From business meetings and conferences to fundraisers and community gatherings, Wil...
08/24/2026

Bring Your Next Gathering to the WHC!

From business meetings and conferences to fundraisers and community gatherings, Willamette Heritage Center offers a setting that’s anything but ordinary. Historic spaces, flexible venues, and the charm of our five-acre heritage site create a memorable backdrop for bringing people together.

Make your next meeting more meaningful—and your next event one guests will remember. ✨

📍 Located in the heart of Salem
🏛️ Historic indoor & outdoor spaces
🤝 Perfect for meetings, conferences, fundraisers & more

Explore our venue options and start planning your next gathering at WHC!
https://www.willametteheritage.org/whc-venues-home/

A huge thank you to all who attended the Property Research Class! Your enthusiasm and great questions brought the materi...
08/23/2026

A huge thank you to all who attended the Property Research Class! Your enthusiasm and great questions brought the material to life.

Couldn’t make it? Our website has plenty of research tools to get you started - more class dates coming in 2027.

We're making history accessible to everyone!Preserving our past also means making sure more people can experience it. We...
08/23/2026

We're making history accessible to everyone!

Preserving our past also means making sure more people can experience it. We’re continuing to improve our campus and facilities to make them more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for visitors of all abilities.

One of those improvements is this new ADA-accessible ramp, helping make it easier for more members of our community to explore our historic campus and connect with the stories that make our region special.

We’re excited to keep making improvements that help everyone feel welcome at WHC—one project at a time.

Then and Now: 3371 Portland Rd NEIn 1955, ground was broken for a new margarine factory at 3371 Portland Rd. Today the ...
08/20/2026

Then and Now: 3371 Portland Rd NE

In 1955, ground was broken for a new margarine factory at 3371 Portland Rd. Today the building is occupied by Ventura Foods.

Then photo: Dutch Maid Margarine Co. groundbreaking. Taken August 18, 1955 by the McEwan Photo Studio. WHC Collections 2006.002.0954.002.

Now Photo: GoogleMaps June 2025

Heads up Salem! Catch the Oregon Black Pioneers walking tours this Saturday. 👀
08/18/2026

Heads up Salem! Catch the Oregon Black Pioneers walking tours this Saturday. 👀

Oregon Black Pioneers' walking tour season is winding down, have you got your tickets? Each Black History Walking Tour explores locations all around Oregon, stopping at places connected to each area’s African American history. Themes include Black-owned businesses, community change, and civil rights. All tours begin at 10:00am.

👟 Portland 8/22, 9/12, 9/26
👟 Salem 8/22
👟 Astoria 9/12

Get tickets here: oregonblackpioneers.org/tours/

NEW EXHIBIT! 🚨WHC will be opening its coziest exhibit yet - just in time for fall.Textilezzz: The Fabric of Sleep. Come ...
08/18/2026

NEW EXHIBIT! 🚨

WHC will be opening its coziest exhibit yet - just in time for fall.

Textilezzz: The Fabric of Sleep.

Come learn and explore as we dive into the warm and fuzzy relationship between people and the fabrics we sleep with! From handcrafted coverlets to Oregon Trail travelling quilts, and mass-produced woolen blankets, this exhibit features snooze inducing items from the Willamette Heritage Center’s permanent collections.

Want to be the first to see our exhibits? Join as a member and get invited to VIP events, including our members-only exhibit preview.
https://www.willametteheritage.org/membership/

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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