The Salem Oregon Witch Trials: Fact Check and Interesting Facts

The infamous Salem Witch Trials actually took place from 1692 to 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts. There were no Salem Oregon witch trials. Salem, Oregon, wasn’t founded until 1842.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Salem Witch Trials, there are a few excellent books I recommend. I read and enjoyed both Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials by Marilynne K Roach and The Witches: Salem 1692 by Stacy Schiff.

⭐️ Click here to find Six Women of Salem and The Witches on Amazon.com ⭐️

However, if you’re wanting to learn more about Salem, Oregon, keep reading below! Salem, Oregon is a city with a lot to offer, several fun and family-friendly activities, and unforgettable surrounding natural beauty. I’ll cover what this city is known for, what to see and do in Salem, and other interesting facts about the city.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small fee from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

What is Salem, Oregon known for?

One of the most notable things about Salem, Oregon, is that it’s the state capital. It first became the state capital in 1852, after moving from Oregon City.

The state capital then briefly moved to Corvallis in 1855. However, it bounced right back to Salem that same year, where the state capital has remained ever since.

Another major thing Salem is known for is its cherry blossoms and cherry cultivation. It’s sometimes referred to as “Cherry City” for the numerous cherry orchards that once surrounded it. The city celebrates this history each spring with its annual Cherry Blossom Days festival.

And today, it’s one of the best cities in the world to view the cherry blossoms. That’s because each year, the State Capital State Park’s 151 Akebono cherry trees burst with these soft pink, sweetly scented blooms in a springtime display like no other.

Top 10 best things to do in Salem, Oregon

1. Deepwood Museum and Gardens

The Deepwood Museum is an elegant Queen Anne Victorian era home, built in 1894. And the surrounding grounds are a 4.5 acre public park today.

The home was occupied by three of Salem’s most prominent families, from 1894 to 1968. It first opened to the public in the 1970s, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

As you wander through these halls, you’ll notice the house is furnished and decorated in a manner true to its era, from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Deepwood’s history-rich exhibits make for an interesting way to learn about Salem’s past.

2. Gilbert House Children’s Museum

Salem boasts a variety of fun, family friendly things to do. And one of the top things on that list is the Gilbert House Children’s Museum. The museum is located within three beautiful and historic homes, right along Salem’s Riverfront Park.

Geared towards children from ages 2 to 10, this museum is sure to cure boredom and inspire curiosity. The exhibits are all hands-on, offering kids a fun way to learn about the world through play.

Here, children can experiment with aerodynamics, colors and light, and a greenscreen. Kids can also build forts, play veterinarian, or learn about how our food makes its way from the farm to our tables. And that’s just to mention a few of the exhibits!

3. Riverfront Carousel

Another great spot to check out on the Salem Riverfront Park is the Riverfront Carousel. This beautiful, hand carved carousel features a zebra, a llama, and a frog, mixed amongst a variety of horses.

Each carousel animal has a unique name, like Emerald the Dragon, Harriet the Giraffe, and Blackberry the Deer, to name a few. And volunteers are continuing to craft new animals to add to the ride, including the soon-to-come skunk named Sweet Tart!

At only $2 per ride, it’s both a family-friendly and budget-friendly activity. Plus, it’s housed indoors, making it a great activity for cold and rainy days.

4. Enchanted Forest

Enchanted Forest is a fairy tale theme park, family owned and operated. It’s popular with the locals, and was even named the number one best family-owned theme park in the US by Newsweek!

This magical theme park is like wandering through a life-size storybook, filled with your favorite fairy tales and nursery rhymes. You’ll find Hansel and Gretel, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater.

Storybook Lane will take you past Humpty Dumpty, the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and a witch’s castle. There’s a log ride and panning for treasure in a small Western Town, and an Old European Village to explore.

The park offers bumper cars and a carousel, among other rides. Plus, there’s face painting, comedy theater, live music, and food and souvenirs. Located just 15 minutes south of town, it’s one of Salem’s must-see attractions.

5. State Capitol State Park

Another great thing to do in Salem is to visit the State Capitol State Park. These beautiful grounds offer an up close view of Oregon’s State Capitol Building.

It’s generally a peaceful spot where you can enjoy a picnic, a walk, or a bike ride. And you may learn a little bit of Oregon history if you note the memorials and plaques through out the park.

But one of the best events held at this park is Cherry Blossom Days. This celebration of the city’s agricultural history and diverse cultural influences is typically held in mid March, when the park’s 151 Akebono Cherry trees are in full bloom.

We visited for Cherry Blossom Days last year, and I got the perfect spring time family photos. The kids learned to write their names in Japanese, we listened to some traditional Japanese music, and got to try out some unique musical instruments ourselves.

I was a little surprised there weren’t more food options at the event. At most, we found a few snacks for purchase. But there were plenty restaurant options close by.

6. Silver Falls State Park

Just a half hour east of Salem, Silver Falls State Park sits nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Regarded as the crowned gem of Oregon’s state parks, this stunning park is an Oregon Bucket list item that belongs at the top of your Salem itinerary.

This state park features ten majestic waterfalls, and the 7-mile Trail of Ten Falls will take you past all of them. However, if you’re looking for a shorter hike, there are endless options to choose from.

We took the out-and-back, dog-friendly Rim Trail, where we saw the Upper North Falls and stood in awe of Winter Falls. Winter Falls is one of 4 waterfalls at Silver Falls where you can actually walk behind the waterfall. I remember how surreal it felt, looking through the torrent of water at the forest beyond, like something out of fairy tale.

Silver Creek Falls makes for a great day trip from Salem or Portland. There are restrooms and picnic tables available in the day use area. Or plan for a longer stay and rent one of their cabins or camping spots.

There are a few important tips to be aware of before you go, though. There is a $5 day use fee, which I was able to pay at a kiosk there near the parking lot. And cell service was hit and miss for me there, so be sure to bring snacks and drinks. And for safety, I like to communicate my hiking plans with a friend or family.

7. Oregon Garden

The Oregon Garden is an 80-plus acre botanical garden about 25 minutes east of Salem. The grounds highlight the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and include a Conifer Garden, Rose Garden, and Children’s Garden, among others.

These gardens are peaceful, and beautiful to visit any time of the year. What typically brings me to the Oregon Garden though, is the various events held on the grounds and in the surrounding area.

In the springtime, the Oregon Garden Resort is an excellent option for accommodation if you’re traveling a distance for the nearby Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. And the Oregon Garden hosts the Silverton Christmas Market each December, with twinkling holiday lights, warm drinks, and plenty of Christmas cheer.

But perhaps one of my favorite visits to the Oregon Garden was one crisp October day. We came for the scarecrow display, to find the garden adorned with pumpkins and autumn splendor.

The Oregon Garden hosts a wide variety of events and workshops throughout the year, combing the arts and the outdoors in a way that’s sure to connect you deeper with nature. Be sure to check out their website for upcoming events to get the most out of your visit.

8. The Gordon House, a Frank Lloyd Wright Design

Another major highlight at the Oregon Garden is the Gordon House, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959). Wright was at the forefront of modern architecture, revolutionizing the way we live and the functionality of our homes.

And there’s only one Frank Lloyd Wright design in all of Oregon. The Gordon House was designed in 1957 specifically for the Gordon Family. It was built several years later in 1963, after Wright’s passing, on the Gordon farm in Wilsonville, situated along the Willamette River.

Mrs. Gordon lived in her home as late as 1997. The house was then sold and slated for demolition. However, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy stepped in to preserve the home.

They had the Gordon house painstakingly deconstructed, moved to the Oregon Garden just outside of Salem, and rebuilt, all in 2001. Today, this piece of history and architecture is open to the public to tour and admire.

9. Schreiner’s Iris Festival

The Schreiner’s Iris Festival is underrated. The largest iris farm in the U.S., it’s located just 20 minutes north of Salem.

Their bloom event is typically held in May, but of course, timing is always dependent on the flowers. We visited for Mother’s Day a few years ago, and I unexpectedly fell in love with the flower.

Great bearded irises of all colors were mingled with lupine and allium. The allium look like giant purple puffs, a Dr. Seussian sort of bloom. And the iris gardens offered excellent inspiration for our own gardens at home.

After wandering the gardens, we snacked at the food trucks there. White picnic tables and Adirondack chairs offered plenty of seating, where we rested beneath the tree-filtered sunlight. On the way out, we bought a few potted irises and companion plants to bring home.

On reflection, I think my previous dislike for irises came down to presentation. But Schreiner’s knows how to put on one heck of a springtime show, and now I don’t think I’ll ever see an iris in quite the same way.

10. Adelman Peony Garden

Salem is simply surrounded by springtime bloom events. Another amazing one to check out is the Adelman Peony blossom festival.

Something about peonies and their abundantly ruffled petals simply declares romance and elegance. We visited on a warm spring day, easily spending an hour strolling through an array of white, pink, and burgundy blooms.

The farm boasts over 500 varieties of peonies spread across thirty acres of fields. Adelman’s is typically open from late April through mid June for your wandering pleasure. And they’re located just a 15 to 20 minute drive north of Salem.

Other Interesting Facts about Salem, Oregon

• Salem wasn’t always Oregon’s state capitol. It moved briefly to Corvallis and Oregon City before finally settling back in Salem.
• The original indigenous people of the area are the Kalapuya
• The Kalapuya called this place Chim-i-ki-ti, meaning “meeting” or “resting place”
• European settlers called this place Chemeketa, a variation of its indigenous name
• Salem is also known as “Cherry City” for its agricultural history and surrounding cherry orchards
• Salem has two sister cities, Kawagoe, Japan, and Gimhae, South Korea
• The city is home to a celebrity llama! Check out this sweet therapy llama here
• Flocks of wild turkeys have been known to wander the streets of Salem
• The 45th parallel runs right through Salem
• Salem has a ferry (Wheatland Ferry) that’s been in use since the 1850’s

Final thoughts on the Salem, Oregon witch trials

To recap, the Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts, not Salem, Oregon. And if you’re hoping to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, there are a few great books I recommend (links below).

⭐️ Click here to find Six Women of Salem and The Witches on Amazon.com ⭐️

However, if it’s Salem, Oregon, you’re interested in, you’ll find Salem is a family-friendly city with plenty of fun things to do. And nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley, it’s surrounded by endless natural beauty.

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