On Thursday, May 31st, Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), will host the 10th Annual Preservation Month Fair at the State Capitol State Park in Salem. Community organizations and several state agencies will highlight the history of their institutions and their work to preserve important sites related to historic events, persons, and places.
May is National Historic Preservation Month and for Oregon communities throughout the state it’s an opportunity to reflect on significant places, artifacts, and collections that help tell the stories of our past as well as to recognize the contributions of those individuals and organizations that preserve those stories and places.
Celebrate National Historic Preservation Month with 28 heritage organizations displaying historic military vehicles, artifacts, and engaging exhibits that tell Oregon's story and highlight the contributions of individuals and organizations to local preservation projects.
The event will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the grounds of the State Capitol on the north side of Court Street, opposite the Capitol building. It is free and open to the public.
Participating exhibitors include the Willamette Heritage Center; Salem Landmarks Commission; Historic Deepwood Estate; Friends of Salem Pioneer Cemetery; Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health; Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua & Siuslaw Indians; Coquille Indian Tribe; Friends of Timberline Lodge; Oregon Black Pioneers; Oregon Aviation Historical Society; Hoover Minthorn House Museum; Daughters of the American Revolution, Newell Pioneer Village and Caples House Museum; Santiam Heritage Foundation; Restore Oregon; Lower Columbia Preservation Society; Silverton Country Historical Society; Oregon Fire Museum; Oregon Military Museum project; proponents of Champoeg State Park; Friends of Silver Falls State Park; Oregon State Parks; Oregon Historical Society; Oregon Historic Trails Advisory Council; Oregon Cultural Trust; Oregon Department of Forestry (Forest History Center); Oregon Department of Transportation; Oregon State Capitol Foundation; Oregon State Archives, and the Oregon State Library.
On display at the event are an operating World War II M3A1 Stuart Light Tank and a Korean War Jeep. A free tour of the Capitol Building Tower, including the observation deck, will begin at the information kiosk in the Capitol Building at 12:00, please arrive 10 minutes early.