Willamette Heritage Center

The Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill (WHC), in Salem, Oregon,was formed on January 1, 2010, by the merger of two well-respected museums, the Marion County Historical Society (est. 1950) and Mission Mill Museum (est. 1964.) The Center’s mission statement is: “To inspire, connect and encourage understanding, the WHC engages community to preserve and share our heritage.” Our purpose is: WHC collects, cares for, interprets, showcases, and promotes understanding of and education about the history of the Willamette Valley region, including Marion County and the greater Salem area. The WHC is anchored by the historic early settlement buildings, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and its archival and library holdings. The WHC’s values statement is: The WHC is dedicated to education, preservation, scholarship, integrity, inclusion, engagement, commitment, enjoyment and inspiration.