60 years ago this month, Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act. On October 15, 1966, the NHPA was signed into law, establishing a framework for protecting the historic and cultural resources that tell our nation’s story. The efforts behind the adoption of the National Historic Preservation Act came after decades of loss of historic resources across the country after World War II, primarily due to transportation improvement projects and urban renewal. The City created a Historic Landmarks Commission by ordinance in 1985, and joined the Certified Local Government Program, a key program established by the National Historic Preservation Act – which has provided ongoing grants and funding for preservation work in Salem since 1986. Six decades later, the NHPA’s legacy continues to protect the historic buildings, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, and community places that connect us to our shared and diverse histories. To Learn more about the NHPA and the programs that continue to shape historic preservation today, as well as the current threats to these programs, please visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation website at savingplaces.org

The first fair for the Oregon Agricultural Society was held at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds, near Oregon City on the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th days of October in 1861. The Weekly Oregon reported on June 28, 1862 that the Board of Managers for the Oregon State Agricultural Society, meeting in Salem on June 16, 1862, decided to hold the second State Fair at the Fairgrounds of the Marion County Society on the first Wednesday in October for four days. The location near Oregon City was problematic, due to its proximity to the river and flooding. The Weekly Oregon reported on September 20, 1862 that the issue of selecting a permanent location for the State Agricultural Fair was considered at the regular biennial session of the Society at their September 17-18th meeting in 1862, and the Marion County Society Fairgrounds was selected as the permanent location for the Oregon State Fair, where it has been held ever since. There are three designated historic buildings on the Fairgrounds including the Criterion Schoolhouse, the Horse Stadium and the Poultry Building. This year’s fair will be the 164th year it has been held in Salem and it will run from August 28-September 7th. This year there will be additional celebrations to honor America’s 250th Birthday. For more information please visit: oregonstatefair.org

The HLC is currently finalizing a nomination for Englewood Park as a local Historic Landmark for its significance to our community. Englewood Park was originally part of a property platted in 1889, by the Salem Land Company. The property was originally owned by Thomas B. Kay- owner of the Thomas Kay Woolen mills (now at the Willamette Heritage Center). This was a tract of 6.96 acres, located just north of Englewood School between 19 and 21 Streets. This area was the first successful purchase of a park for use by the surrounding community which happened on February 15th, 1926. To learn more about the history of Englewood Park you can listen to a Willamette Wake up Interview recorded on August 10 2017 with Laurie Loomis Dietz and Ruth Roberts, Lord and Schryver Conservancy. You can hear about how the Englewood Park Forest Festival came about. Ruth shares a lot of the history about Elisabeth Lord’s design of the Park. The Englewood Park- Forest Festival was established in 2017 by Lynn Takata in order to bring both awareness and appreciation of Englewood Park, designed by Lord and Schryver; as well as to bring the community together to support the arts and provide opportunities for environmental education. The annual Englewood Park Forest Festival will be held on August 8, 2026 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. To learn more please visit: https://www.englewoodforestfestival.org/