Salem, one of Oregon's oldest communities, is a vibrant city with a rich history and a charming “small-town” disposition. The native Kalapuyan people called the spot Chemeketa, loosely translated to mean "meeting or resting place," an apt moniker for this hub of government, agriculture and, more recently, tourism. Missionaries and Oregon Trail travelers arriving in the 1830s and 1840s created the original settlement, and in 1842, founded the Oregon Institute, now known as Willamette University. The small but growing city was renamed Salem, a form of the hebrew shalom, meaning peace. Salem became the state capitol in 1851, and again in 1855 after a long-simmering civic dispute moved it briefly to Corvallis.

Walking through Salem is perhaps the best way to appreciate the city’s rich blend of old and new influences. Historic home districts showcase Victorian-era homes, many open to the public, that have been carefully preserved and restored, some with original furnishings. Merchants, investors and city officials have worked together to restore such downtown landmarks as the Reed Opera House and the Historic Elsinore Theatre, attracting a new generation of art aficionados, shoppers and diners.