Willamette Heritage Center 1313 Mill Street Southeast, Salem, OR 97301

"This is an excellent hands-on museum for kids and teens to explore. There are several historic buildings that show the history of early Oregon missionaries and settlers in the area. And then there is the mill structures, such as the machine shop & the picker house, that show you all of the steps involved in the process of creating fabric from wool. Frequently there are people using looms on the fourth floor of the Mill building, weaving fabric while you watch, who can answer all of your questions. Our children from elementary age up to college students were all fully engaged and loved exploring this place thoroughly. We suggest giving yourself at least two hours to see most of things here. The gift shops are also well worth seeing. Note: As Historic buildings, not all of these areas are fully wheelchair or stroller accessible. There’s also some uneven flooring and ground throughout."

"Stopped for an impromptu brunch at the cafe and found ourselves walking around the center and taking a tour of the Mill. An incredibly charming place and the site of Oregon's first Woollen Mill."

"Great museum. Go during the week if you can. Free parking. Great exhibits with working machinery. A fenced yard with multiple buildings you can enter with history and displays. There are also other small shops onsite as well as a small restaurant with outdoor and indoor seating."

"A great place to take a walk through a beautiful path that runs by Mill Creek. You can watch the ducks or just sit quietly. You can take a tour of the old Mill or just walk through and take a look on your own. Overall, this is a great place to visit!"

"I’m truly not sure how I’ve lived in Oregon for 20+ years before discovering this gem. What a gorgeous preservation of Oregon history. Get a map, get a key, and take a self guided tour around this historic site. The history is fascinating and the buildings and machinery look like the workers could walk back in and pick up where they left off. Definitely worth the minor entry fee."