Visiting the Building The capitol building is overseen by the Oregon State Legislature through the Legislative Administration Committee. It is not part of Oregon State Parks. The building hosts a number of permanent and visiting exhibits, artwork and historical information. Visitors can find self-guided tour options, escorted tour schedules, exhibit information and a gift store within the Capitol. Visitor Kiosk: 503-986-1388 Capitol Gift Shop: 503- 986-1391 Mailing Address: RON COOPER 900 Court St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97301 Chloe and William Willson donated Block 84 Building Hours: This photo shows Site History on the plat for what became the 1853 Territorial Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM part of a painting of A place for a capitol building was a part of the Statehouse, and conveyed the rest of Willson Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_ the early Territorial original vision for the city of Salem as early as Avenue to the city of Salem in 1853, as a city engagement/Pages/Visit-the-Capitol.aspx building in Salem, 1846. The site was laid out in plat by William park. At some point, Willson Avenue was renamed c. 1854. Willson, a lay member of the Methodist Mission Willson Park. and prominent Salem citizen. Many important mid-19th century institutions were located within The Breyman Events at the Park this plat, including the Methodist Church, Oregon Fountain is the Individuals or groups interested in holding events on the Institute (later Willamette University), county only historic capitol grounds need a permit from Oregon State Parks. The Seat of State courthouse, post office and capitol. object remaining For more info, go to www.oregonstateparks.org Government At the heart in Willson or email [email protected] of the plat Park today. The most important historic feature in the park is, of was a three- The fountain, course, the capitol itself. Today’s capitol is the third block-long originally used as building to seat the state government at or near this open space a horse watering Exit #260 site. Two former capitol buildings were destroyed labeled Willson trough, was a The Breyman Fountain by fire: one in 1855 and the second in 1935. The Avenue, with gift to the city current building was constructed from 1936-1938, a plot clearly of Salem in 1904 from the Breyman family. The and is considered to be an important example of Capitol number two, which burned marked for statue atop the fountain fell off at some point Modernistic architecture. The base of the building is down in 1935. the capitol in the late 1930s, was stored, and somehow granite, and its exterior is clad with Danby Vermont disappeared. It's possible it fell victim to a scrap Exit #258building at one end and a plot for the county marble. The building was expanded in 1977. It is courthouse at the other. Willson Avenue included drive, which were common during the listed (1988) in the National Register of Historic three city blocks measuring approximately 300 feet World War II years. These columns come from the Places, and it houses the state legislature (both the by 1100 feet and was bounded by Court, Church, portico of the second capitol, House and Senate), and the offices ofSalem the Parkway governor, State and Capitol Streets. secretary of state, and treasurer. which burned in 1935. ➞ elcome to State Capitol State Park. The Stone plaques set in the mall sidewalks list the State Capitol W grounds surrounding Oregon’s capitol building county seat and establishment date for each of To I-5 State Park are owned by the people of Oregon, and since Oregon’s 36 counties. On the Willson Park side of 2008 have been managed by Oregon State Parks. the street, flags from every state in the union sit in Silverton Rd The 21-acre T-shaped property is known as the a circle near the Moon Tree, a state heritage tree. Portland Rd Fairgrounds Capitol Mall, and is home to two smaller parks: The young Douglas-fir, just north of the flags along Willson Park, west of the capitol, and Capitol Court Street, was grown from a seed carried to the Park, to the east. moon in 1971. W The grounds themselves tell a story of Oregon’s Some 75 species of trees flourish here. The sturdy Fairgrounds Rd a Dr Lancaster l l native conifers, dozens of non-native trees of a history, through architecture, botany and art. c e Exit #256 Walking Tour Statues, fountains, trees, marble intaglios, special varying ages and sizes and unusual ornamentals Front St Market St To I-5 ➞ plantings and commemorative markers create a give the park an arboretum-like feel. Not all are Willamette River sense of history and place. In spring, dozens of “specimen” trees, but many are, and all were High St cherry trees come into bloom, creating planted deliberately if informally. E Marion St d Summer St g e a soft pink carpet as the days lengthen. Capitol St NE w Center St a t e r Several varieties of cherry trees are S Commercial St t Court St 17th St planted throughout the park. Center St State Capitol State St State Park Will. Univ. H Liberty St w Mission St I-5 y 2 2 22 12th St Bush Park 22 To I-5 St 25th 13th St 13th ➞ Rural Ave Exit #253 www.oregonstateparks.org This publication is available in alternative formats on request. Write to OPRD, 725 Summer St. NE, Suite C, Salem, OR 97301; or call 1-800-551-6949 (for the hearing impaired 1-800-735-2900). 63400-9830 (4-14) E x i t # 2 5 3 K u e b l e r B l v d C o m m e r c ia l S t I-5 S u n n y s i reekside d C D e r R d Monuments/Statues 1 Circuit Rider – Dedicated to Robert Booth by his son in 1924, this statue honors preachers who rode circuits carrying the gospel to remote communities. 2 Dr. John McLoughlin – Physician and Chief Factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, McLoughlin was the first person to unofficially govern the Oregon Territory. He is known as the “Father of Oregon Country.” 3 Column Fragments – These columns made from bricks fabricated at the State Penitentiary supported the front of the Capitol Building that was destroyed by fire in 1935. 4 Rev. Jason Lee – Canadian-born Methodist missionary. Established the first mission in Oregon in 1834. Founded Willamette University. IVES H RC 5 Medal of Honor Memorial – Donated in 2004 by the A TATE TATE Oregon State Capitol Foundation. S ON 6 G Rock Monument – This hefty boulder once marked a RE trail to Oregon and was given by the Daughters of the O Trees/Shrubs American Revolution in 1922 to honor Oregon settlers. 1 Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) 7 Liberty Bell Replica – Presented to the State on 2 Tom McCall Tree – Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) July 4, 1950 by the Hon. John Snyder, U.S. Secretary of HALVORSON GARY Treasury, to promote savings bonds. IVES 3 Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) H 8 RC Tribal Walk of Flags – Completed 2009. A tribute to A 4 Shag Bark Hickory (Carya ovate) the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon. TATE S ON 5 Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) 9 Capital Beaver Family G – Presented June 26, 1985, by RE 6 California Nutmeg (Torreya californica) the Willamette Christmas Association to honor the O state animal. 7 Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) 10 Peace Pole – The Society of Prayer for World Peace has 8 Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) donated “peace poles” to all 50 states. HALVORSON GARY 9 Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) 11 Parade of Animals – 10 Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) Dedicated in 1991 to honor State Capitol State Park Oregon’s children. Center St NE 11 Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) 12 Breyman Fountain – Donated Site Improvement Plan 12 Camperdown Elm (Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’) by the Breyman family to the 29 13 Birch Bark Cherry (Prunus serrula) city of Salem 1 in 1904. 28 14 Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) 13 World War II Memorial – 15 Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia soulangina) This imposing, 33-foot, LEGEND 14 3 16 Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara) 5-sided granite obelisk Labor and Oregon Trees/Shrubs Sprague honors those who worked Industries Fountain 17 Douglas-fir “Moon Tree”(Pseudotsuga menziesii) Department and served at home and of KEY 18 Fountains Horse Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) abroad during WWII. Transportation Interpretation Panels Donated in 2014 by the 19 Rhododendron (Rhododendron pacifica) Monuments/ Orientation Signs Oregon WWII Memorial Statues 20 Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) Foundation. Other Site Features (Statues, Fountains) 21 London Planetree (Platanus x acerifolia) 14 Fallen Worker Memorial – Flowers Buildings Dedicated April, 2009 22 Blue Atlas Cedar (Cedus atlantica ‘Glauca’) Chemeketa St Willson Park PM3 Project Code Paved Plazas 23 Persian Parrotia (Parrotia persica) 26 Capitol Park 24 Fine Graveled Areas / or Paving Winter NE St 27 Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) Flowers 27 NE St Capitol ADA Restroom 25 Dove Tree (Davida involucrata) 1 Rose Garden – This Existing Trees 26 Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) garden has a variety of 30 New Trees beautiful, fragrant roses. 27 Akebono Flowering Cherry (Prunus Trees to be Removed 2 yedoensis ‘Akebono’) Fuchsia bed – Propagated, State Public Color Spot Planting Beds planted and cared for by Services 28 Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba) 24 Library the Salem Fuchsia Society, Groundcover and Shrubs 29 Witch Hazel (Hamamelis species) this display of 350 plants Grass 30 Red Maple (Acer rubrum) showcases more than 90 25 varieties.