SALEM IS MOPO HISTORY & HERITAGE Long before Europeans settled in the mid-Willamette Valley area, the region of Grand Ronde, just west of Salem, was the home of the Kalapuya people. They named the region Chachalu, which translates to “place of burnt timbers,” after a forest fire ravaged the valley in 1856. Today the Kalapuya have returned to their homeland, and descendants are keeping their traditions alive. This is but one example of how the region’s rich heritage is thriving into the present day. From the Kalapuya to the first settlers who farmed the land — visitors can explore the area’s history through museums, walking tours and day trips. Start your heritage tour at the Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center, which tells the story of the Kalapuya people and members of The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, a federally recognized tribe that includes over 30 tribes and bands from Western Oregon, Northern California and Southwest Washington. The museum includes historical artifacts like hand-carved canoes and offers educational classes on traditional arts such as woodcarving and basket weaving. This is also a center for community gatherings and where the tribe’s stories, history and culture are shared. Head over to Salem and take a stroll around the landscaped Capitol Mall grounds, also known as Willson Park, which features roses, cherry trees, and dozens of the salem area’s rich history and heritage 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 seven-block 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 in 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 Kelly James Deepwood Museum & Gardens TravelSalem.com 18
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