Take a look at interesting materials from our collections.
Murhammer Crazy Quilt
Crazy Quilt created by Helena Kayser Murhammer in 1915. More traditional block found in left center section of the quilt top. Overall block [...]
March 2024
July 2023
Tiger Engine No. 2 – Salem Fire Department
We were pleasantly surprised recently when one of our research volunteers located an historic Oregon Journal article that provided history and context to this framed [...]
January 2022
Salem in Portraits
Portraits and brief biographical sketches of Salem individuals from 1930. Persons included were nominated by friends with the only qualification being their active [...]
July 2021
Great Oregon Steam-Up
Celebrating the Bygone-Era of Steam on Mid-Valley Farms a Tradition in Itself Steam engine belted up to a threshing machine [...]
March 2019
Mystery Scrapbook
In 1983 a rather non-descript black photo album was donated to the Marion County Historical Society. Only a third of the pages were filled [...]
January 2019
Finding New Music 100 Years Ago
How do you find music to listen to? I was recently reflecting on the way music access has changed in my own life in [...]
July 2018
Charles E. Couche – Rivercrest Jersey Farm
On a tour of the new Yesterdayland: Innovations of the Past exhibit at the Willamette Heritage Center I found myself stumped by a set [...]
June 2018
Steam Cookers – the original instant pots
In preparation for our new exhibit Yesterdayland: Innovations of the Past we’ve been immersed in the history of early 20th century technology and having [...]
March 2018
Oregon Electric Timetable, 1918
Before there was I-5 and even widespread automobile travel, if you wanted to get to the next town in the Willamette Valley, [...]
May 2016
Are you gaining at least a 1/2 lb per month?
Public Health Campaign Nine-year-old Siviter Ward Horn (1914-2004) wore this public health campaign tag home from Highland School in 1923, encouraging him and his family [...]