Here’s a list of a few Willamette favorites:
1. Hallie Ford Museum of Art
A jewel of Willamette’s campus and Oregon’s third-largest art museum, HFMA packs an incredible amount of art into its space. Exhibitions range from classical to contemporary work, and permanent galleries highlight Pacific Northwest and Native American artists among many others.
2. The Space Concert Club
Professor of Chemistry Karen Holman’s band, City of Pieces, performs at this venue and several others in the Salem area. Known for great vegan food and drinks.
3. Capitol City Theater
Professor of Chemistry Chuck Williamson regularly performs and teaches improv there. Other Willamette connections as of 2019: Emma Jonas ’15 regularly performs improv and standup and Owen Lyon-Smith ’21 is a student team show performer.
4. Elsinore Theatre
Musicals, comedy, classic movies, concerts. The president of the Elsinore board is a Willamette alum.
5. Oregon Symphony Association in Salem
Performs every year on Willamette’s campus.
6. Oregon State Capitol
Located across the street from the capitol, Willamette is the only university in the Pacific Northwest that offers such direct access to state policymaking. Students intern for judges, research at the state archives and contribute to our laws.
Check out the moon rock, too. In the governor’s office, view the small lunar samples collected from the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin brought back the samples, which were distributed to all 50 states by President Richard Nixon.
7. Minto-Brown Island Park
There are more than 1,200 acres of open and wooded areas to explore in Salem’s biggest park (and you might catch President Steve Thorsett on a morning run.)
8. Gilbert House Children’s Museum
Interactive children’s museum with 15 exhibits. Located near the popular Riverfront City Park.
9. Willamette Heritage Center
Across the street from Matthews Hall — and on your way to Tokyo International University of America — the center features early settlement buildings, shops, art galleries and cooperative artist studios.
10. Reed Opera House
Renovated historic building that houses shops, restaurants and bakeries.