Salem, Oregon
Photo Gallery 6
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This statue of Jason Lee, like in the U.S. capitol, stands on the grounds of the Oregon state capitol building. Lee was an early Christian missionary to the Salem area, seeking to share the gospel with the native populations. Like Marcus Whitman of the Walla Walla, Washington area, Lee experienced limited success with the native peoples, but was at least spared Whitman's violent demise. |
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Larwood covered bridge, in nearby Linn County. While this is a very pleasant setting, it was a challenging bridge to get a good shot of in the sunlight. I'll really have to back on a slightly overcast day to eliminate the heavy contrasts. This was taken at the last part of one of the longest days of the year, and I had imagined getting sunlight over the entire scene, with some delightful reflection on the water. But that didn't happen, as you can see. So, this image will change some day soon. |
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One of the Salem Riverfront Carousel horses. These were each carved by hand by a group of volunteers, with each animal being unique and including many delightful details. |
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Backing off a little bit, through the opened sliding glass doors, one gets a fuller perspective of the carousel in action. The sign at the top of the image is also nothing that I've added, it is as you see it. I just cropped the photo a bit close. |
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Surrounding the top of the carousel, the "crown" (as I will call it) is decorated with many local images. The cherries on each side are on every panel, as Salem is known as the cherry city. The shield however changes on every section. this one bears the image of one of the many covered bridges and the Oregon state bird, the Western Meadowlark. |
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Before I give you the feeling of only wanting bright colorful imagery, I thought I could get gloomy on you here with a scene from the Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Established in 1841, it holds the remains of many of Salem's notable citizens. yet not everyone was welcome. As the story is told of two lost souls that were hanged in Salem, but there was no one that would allow their remains to be buried anywhere. Then a Christian man, Mr. Waldo took and laid them to rest in unmarked graves on his land somewhere east of town. An old Indian chief is also known be be buried somewhere beneath the playground of one Salem public school. |
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One of Salem's more prominent early citizens was, of course, Asahel Bush, who, along with his family, is among the occupants of the Salem Pioneer Cemetery. These tall white stones are quite unique, and maybe just very well maintained, as I don't recall seeing anything quite like them before. Photos of the Bush house are on other pages of this web site. |
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Olallie Lake, is one crystal clear lake nestled high in the Cascade Range east-northeast of Salem. Take a canoe or rowboat, as motorboats are not allowed. Actually even swimming is not allowed, allowing nothing that could damage this pristine lake. However the fishing is grand, and since the lake is covered in snow most of the year, these fish have time to grow. |
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Atop the Oregon state capitol building is the 23 foot tall Oregon Pioneer. This axe-toting figure is symbolic of the spirit of Oregon's early settlers. Every couple of decades Oregon schoolchildren stage amazing fundraisers to re-plate the bronze statue in gold. |
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A drawing of the old state capitol building which burned in the 1930's. I do like Oregon's current legislative building, but something about the old Victorian structures is totally awesome. The image is from the Salem Library historic photo collection. |
Gallery 1 Oregon state capital building - Sculpture of Oregon pioneers - Asahel Bush house of 1877 - Deepwood Estate 1894 - 1952 Marion county courthouse - Teddy Roosevelt visits 1903 - Bush Pasture Park rose garden - Silver Falls State Park South Falls
Gallery 2 Bush Pasture Park Rose Garden Gazebo - High Street, Downtown Salem - kinetic sculpture "Galaxy" created by Andrew Carson - whimsical Salem artwork - sculpture on the Marion County Courthouse - Lower South Falls at Silver Falls State Park - banks of the Willamette
at Minto-Brown Park - President W. H. Taft visited Salem in 1911 Ladd & Bush Bank 1880/2001 - Salem Courthouse Square - kinetic sculpture "Galaxy" created by Andrew Carson with video - Salem Riverfront Carousel - Yaquina Head Lighthouse 1893 Historic Mission Mill Museum - Jason Lee and John Boon houses - Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, carding machine, loom - mill race - forge room of the Mentzer machine shop 1870 Salem map - Detroit Lake 2000-01 drought - Silver Falls State Park rain forest - covered bridges - Boone Treasury - Lewis and Clark with guide Sacagawea - remnants of the ruins of the old capital building - Dr. John McLoughlin statueFor lack of a better place to put this thought right now, I have a little side note concerning the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest. They were a people with a rich culture, little of which is left to us save a most unique style of artwork. One of their more famous leaders, Chief Seattle, made a historic speech regarding the U.S. government's offer to buy their land from them, in 1854 Oregon Territory. This speech has been reprinted in the past few decades as a sort of "Earth speech" has apparently gone through some modifications through time.
The chief's original message is still great and worthy of meditation upon, but the heart of the statement is richer material for theologians than environmentalists. The link I am providing offers three versions of the chief's message, the well know "Earth Speech", an 1887 newspaper account of it, and the original message of Chief Seattle. Any way you look at it however, I believe the message to be meaningful and worthy of consideration here on my page, so I'm providing this link to Chief Seattle's speech.
This page created July 20, 2002 - updated January 28 & September 5, 2003
Oregon flag courtesy of 
Other great flag sites include the following
