Salem Oregon History

The Native Americans who lived in the Salem area called it Chemeketa, which means meeting place. The first Europeans settled here in 1840, led by Methodist missionary Jason Lee. Two years later, missionaries founded the Oregon Institute. By 1844, the mission closed and the town of Salem was founded.

Oregon became a state in 1849 and the state capital was moved to Salem from Oregon City in 1851. After being moved briefly to Corvallis in 1855, it returned to Salem permanently. In 1857, Salem became an incorporated city.

Today's capitol building, completed in 1938, is the third to stand on the same spot, the first two being destroyed by fire.