SALEM, Ore. — The public will have a unique opportunity to step into Oregon’s early history during an Archaeology Open House scheduled for June 20, 2026, at Willamette University.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the excavation site of the former Oregon Indian Mission Manual Labor School, located east of Smullin Hall at 900 State Street in Salem. Visitors will be able to view the active excavation area, examine recovered artifacts, and learn about ongoing efforts to uncover one of the region’s most historically significant sites.
The archaeological investigation is part of a public archaeology project led by the City of Salem’s Historic Preservation Program. Funding for the effort comes through a Certified Local Government grant awarded to the City of Salem’s Historic Landmarks Commission by Oregon Heritage. The project began in 2025 and aims to better understand the location and history of the former mission school.
Community partners involved in the project include Willamette University, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and the Oregon Archaeological Society.
Researchers believe the site contains remains associated with the Methodist missionaries’ Indian Manual Labor Training School, established in 1841. The school played a significant role in the early history of Salem and eventually evolved into what is now Willamette University.
Historical records indicate that Methodist missionaries constructed two buildings in the area between 1841 and 1842. One building, later known as the Parsonage, was originally located near the present-day Thomas Kay Woolen Mill Building. The second structure served as the Indian Manual Labor Training School. In 1844, the school became known as the Oregon Institute, and in 1853 it was officially renamed Willamette University.
Using a combination of non-invasive survey methods and archaeological excavation, researchers are working to identify the precise locations of the two buildings and gain a deeper understanding of their historical significance. The project also seeks to provide greater context for the experiences of Native communities and the broader story of Euro-American settlement in the Salem area.
Project organizers say the research could shed new light on important moments in both Tribal history and the development of Oregon’s oldest university.
Additional information about the Oregon Mission Indian Manual Labor Training School Archaeology Project is available through the project’s website, which also features a recording of Capital Community Media’s June 20, 2025, “Insight” program on the excavation and a LiDAR scan showing the cobble floor of what archaeologists believe was a blacksmith shop associated with the school.
The June 20 open house is free and open to the public.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
