Exhibit: A Willamette Farmer's Legacy - Thomas Dove Keizur
2026-08-03 - 2026-08-28 | West Galleria
Thomas Dove (T.D.) Keizur was an involved resident of the Oregon Territory. Participating in the first Oregon election more than 180 years ago, serving as a pre-provisional legislator in 1844 and serving as the founding Captain of the Oregon Rangers, Keizur embodied “an Oregonian that got involved” in Oregon’s democratic process, which is the one of the core narrative goals of the Capitol History Gateway exhibit program.
This exhibit was sponsored by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and is brought to us by the Keizer Heritage Museum.

Digital Exhibit - Maxville: Multicultural Timber History Through an Archaeological Lens
2026-08-12 - 2026-09-18 | Online
Maxville was a company logging town in Wallowa County, Oregon established by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company of St. Louis, Missouri. It was a component of the rapidly expanding industrial logging industry in the early 20th century, and despite exclusion laws that made it illegal to be Black in Oregon, Bowman Hicks moved dozens of African American families to northeast Oregon, families whose members were skilled lumbermen in the American South. Until disbanded by the company in 1933, some 400 residents of Maxville harvested trees and lived their daily lives in a community that included white and black neighborhoods and schools, an integrated baseball team, a hotel, a post office, a jail, an administrative center, and a narrow-gauge railway.
Many residents, including African Americans, remained living at Maxville through the 1940s, and their descendants still live in Wallowa County today. This archaeology exhibit explores the PNW timber industry, diaspora and dislocation using geolocation methodologies and archaeological protocols to uncover two dwellings that reveal insights over 100 years later of family, daily life, work, and recreation activities of Maxville residents.
This online exhibit runs August 12 through September 18, and is brought to us by Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center. The exhibit is sponsored, in part, by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation.

Exhibit - "Riveting History: 100 Years of the Bridge of the Gods"
2026-09-03 - 2026-10-01 | West Galleria
Riveting History: 100 Years of the Bridge of the Gods celebrates the centennial of the iconic steel cantilever span that has connected Cascade Locks, Oregon and Stevenson, Washington across the Columbia River since October 26, 1926. The exhibit is free and will be on display in the Capitol’s Galleria September 3 through October 1, and can be viewed during the Capitol’s building hours.
The exhibit traces the bridge’s origins to the Indigenous legend of “Tahmahnaw,” a natural land bridge formed by the massive Cascade Landslide Complex in the mid-1400s. From there, the exhibit follows the ambitious journey to build the modern span: the rise of automobile tourism along the Columbia River Highway, entrepreneur George S. Allen’s vision for a crossing at the Cascades, the Bridge of the Gods Corporation’s dramatic 1922 dedication ceremony, and years of financial struggles before the Wauna Toll Bridge Company stepped in to rescue the project. This culminated in an opening day celebration on October 26, 1926 to mark the joining of two communities. The exhibit also covers a remarkable engineering feat that came years later: when Bonneville Dam’s new reservoir threatened to swallow the bridge’s clearance, the entire span was raised 44 feet in 1940, lifting it to its current height of 140 feet above the Columbia River. Together, these stories of geology, Indigenous heritage, entrepreneurial ambition, and engineering ingenuity make Riveting History a rich celebration of a bridge that has become one of the Columbia River Gorge’s most beloved landmarks.
This exhibit was sponsored by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and is brought to us by the Cascade Locks Museum.

Hispanic Heritage Day
2026-09-12 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Rotunda
Celebrate the diverse cultures of the Hispanic and Latino communities in Oregon. This event will have musical celebration as well as dancing and free activities provided by our Capitol History Gateway partners. This year’s celebration will take place on Saturday, September 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The presenting sponsor for this event is the Oregon State Capitol Foundation.
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Celebre la diversidad cultural de las comunidades hispana y latina en Oregón. Este evento contará con música, baile y actividades gratuitas a cargo de nuestros socios de Capitol History Gateway.
El patrocinador principal de este evento es la Fundación del Capitolio del Estado de Oregón.

Oregon's Bounty: A Celebration of Agriculture
2026-10-03 10:00 - 14:00 | Rotunda
Join us at the Capitol on October 3, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a celebration of all things agriculture. A number of our Capitol History Gateway partners will be providing activities, exhibits and education free for the entire family.

A Tribute to Veterans Exhibit
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-13 | Rotunda
Pay tribute to our military veterans with this exhibit in the Capitol Rotunda. The colors will be posted along with a small collection of uniforms (one from each branch of service) from the VFW Uniform Museum, and the state seal will be decorated with red, white and blue decor. Free to view during building hours.

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
2026-12-01 17:00 - 19:00 | Rotunda
Kick off Holidays at the Capitol season with the annual tree lighting ceremony. This is a tradition for many families. Choral performance starts at 5 p.m. Program with dignitaries starts at 5:30 p.m. Free photo station with Santa follows directly after tree is lit. Please bring your camera or cell phone for this experience as physical photos are no longer provided. Free cookies and punch while supplies last.
To watch a livestream of the event starting at 5 p.m. click on the streaming link available a couple of hours before the event starts.

Holidays at the Capitol
2026-12-02 - 2026-12-23 | Rotunda
Holidays at the Capitol is a time-honored tradition that fills the Rotunda with the sounds of school choirs from around the state. Performances take place from Monday through Saturday. Holiday décor on display during building hours. The choir schedule will be available the last week of November and performances run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be a streaming link provided the first day of performances.
If you are coming to the Capitol to watch the performances, please know parking is metered at $1.50 per hour. You will also go through security – no personal protections devices or sprays, knives, multi-tools or guns are allowed in the Capitol.

Exhibit: "ReEnvisioned: Contemporary Portraits of Our Black Ancestors"
2027-01-26 - 2027-03-04 | West Galleria
Salem Art Association presents “ReEnvisioned: Contemporary Portraits of Our Black Ancestors” from January 26 to March 4. This exhibition, showcasing reproductions of 10 powerful portraits, is free and open to the public during building hours.
The series of 10 striking portraits were commissioned by the Salem Art Association in 2022 as part of a broader effort to reinvent and reimagine the Bush House Museum. The vision of acclaimed artist Jeremy Okai Davis (left) guided the creation of each piece in the series. Davis’s work not only honors the individuals depicted but also challenges the historical narratives that have long sidelined the contributions of Black Americans. These portraits now reside in the permanent collection at the Bush House Museum, where they stand as declarations of presence—a powerful reminder of the lives that have shaped our society and deserve recognition.
“As curators of the Bush House Museum as a historic site, we recognize the harm Asahel Bush inflicted on people of color in Oregon, and the creation of this exhibition marks a significant step toward addressing the underrepresentation of people of color in cultural institutions, including our own. The completion of this portrait series, three years after the initial commission, is an acknowledgment of the important contributions of Black individuals to the fabric of our state and a reflection of our commitment to honoring these legacies.”
This exhibit was funded, in part, by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) 3.

Oregon's Anniversary of Statehood
2027-02-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Rotunda
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​Come and join us in celebration of Oregon’s Statehood. Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859, but we honor the history of the land since time immemorial with the inclusion of our sovereign tribes. This event is free and open to the public. Capitol doors will open at 10 a.m. Please be aware there is security screening to enter the building.
11 a.m. Birthday cupcakes in the Galleria, while supplies last. For a detailed program of musical and dance performances, please check back!
Events and exhibits all day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
· Oregon’s original constitution on display in the Galleria
· Living history – historic costumed interpreters in Galleria
· Many activity stations for families
· Enter to win a prize basket

Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol
2027-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Rotunda
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The third Saturday of March is Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol. Celebrate Spring, the blossoming cherry trees in the Capitol Mall and the impact of the Japanese culture on our state. We will be celebrating with booths, activities and performances from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. Parking is free on Saturday.
Please check back for the 2027 schedule of events.

Yozakura - Nighttime Viewing of the Cherry Blossoms
2027-03-20 18:00 - 2027-04-04 22:00 | State Capitol State Park, 900 Court St. NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a “Yozakura” – nighttime viewing of the cherry blossoms in State Capitol State Park from March 20-April 4. Japanese lanterns and lights will illuminate the trees until 10 p.m. nightly.
No alcohol is allowed in the park and it closes at 10 p.m., however the public is invited to bring a blanket or beach chairs, a picnic, and practice “hanami” or blossom viewing.
This event is sponsored by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation and the City of Salem.

Spring Break Passport to Fun!
2027-03-22 - 2027-03-26
Seven downtown venues have joined together to create “Spring Break Passport to Fun”, which offers activities for the family during spring break week. City of Salem Library, Deepwood Museum, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, the Oregon State Capitol, Salem Art Association, Willamette Heritage Center, and World Beat Gallery have teamed up to offer families a fun and free, or discounted, way to fill the week off school with activities. The passport will be able to download beginning March 1.
You can start and end your journey at any of the participating locations, and also enter to win one of three gift baskets.

VFW #661 Military Uniform Display
2027-04-06 10:00 - 2027-04-30 17:00 | West Galleria
Salem is home to a vast and valuable collection of military uniforms. The collection was started more than 30 years ago by H.A. “Mac” MacDonald, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel who served during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
MacDonald was working as a lobbyist for various veterans’ organizations when he was asked if he knew anyone who would be interested in an unwanted military uniform. MacDonald was, and from that single donation grew a collection that today has 2,200 uniforms.
You may have seen past exhibits at the Capitol, or perhaps at the Marion County or state fair. But what you might not know is that every exhibit is different. Come and explore the uniforms during this annual exhibit which runs April 6-30, 2027.

Asian and Pacific Islander Day
2027-04-24 10:00 - 14:00 | Rotunda
Join us for a cultural exploration of the Asian Continent and the Pacific Islands, and broaden your awareness of the cultures that permeate the state’s landscape. Please check back April 1, for the schedule of the event, which will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Capitol. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is free around the Capitol on Saturdays.

Exhibit: "From Vanport to the Capitol: The Journey of Jackie Winters"
2027-05-04 - 2027-06-03 | West Galleria
The Vanport Mosaic presents “From Vanport to the Capitol: The Journey of Jackie Winters.” This exhibit will be showcased in the Capitol Galleria from May 5 to June 3, and is viewable for free during building hours.
Jackie Winters survived the 1948 Vanport Flood—often called Oregon’s Katrina—and navigated the systemic barriers of 20th-century Oregon, from racial segregation to political marginalization. Through archival photos, oral histories, and immersive storytelling, this exhibit traces her path from adversity to leadership, from survival to public service. Discover how Winters championed food security, criminal justice reform, and economic opportunity, leaving a lasting mark on Oregon’s political and social landscape.
This exhibit was funded, in part, by the Oregon State Capitol Foundation, a 503(c)3.
