Silverton: Gardens, Murals and Historic Town History

Silverton combines impressive garden landscapes, vibrant town history and nature experiences around Silver Creek. Those looking for a mix of culture, walks and distinctive landscapes during their vacation will find a variety of options here for days filled with variety. Depending on your preferred travel pace, you can focus on the historic downtown, the Oregon Garden or excursions into the surrounding area.

Gardens, Water and a Remarkable Tree

The Oregon Garden is a 130-acre botanical garden with more than 20 themed gardens. These include the Drought Tolerant Garden, the Native Garden, the Children's Garden and the Pet-Friendly Garden. This allows you to tailor a visit to different interests: You can focus on drought-tolerant plants, get to know native garden landscapes or plan time in areas with a family-oriented focus.

The combination of garden art and water technology is also part of the Oregon Garden's character. The wetlands and the A-Mazing Water Garden cool Silverton's wastewater; this water is then used to irrigate the garden. Another distinctive stop is the Signature Oak. The tree is 400 years old and designated as an Oregon Heritage Tree. Depending on the season, the garden also offers an approximately 25-minute narrated tram ride.

Discover Silverton on Foot

The historic downtown is a pedestrian-friendly district with preserved brick architecture and more than 30 murals honoring the local heritage. Silver Creek flows through the town center; pedestrian bridges connect Main Street with shady parks. To explore the murals, the Silverton Mural Society provides a free map. There are also free self-guided tours with a tour map and audio app, as well as guided tours through the historic downtown.

Those who would like to learn about the town's history more systematically can take the Silverton Historic Walking Tour. It includes more than 15 homes, businesses and churches. On the first Friday of every month, Silverton's First Friday also takes place downtown. This makes it possible to take the event into account when planning a trip without structuring the entire stay around a single activity.

The City's Architecture and History

The Silverton Commercial Historic District covers approximately seven acres and includes 27 contributing buildings. It preserves the town's original commercial and industrial center at the intersection of Silver Creek and the principal east-west commercial route. Its history represents the parallel development of commerce and hydropower in an agricultural, mill-oriented community in the Willamette Valley between 1870 and 1936.

The various historic structures include the two-and-a-half-story Murton E. Deguire House in the late Victorian or Queen Anne style, the Louis J. Adams House in the Craftsman style and the June D. Drake House in the Free Classic Queen Anne style. White Steeple Church combines Carpenter Gothic and Queen Anne. The Joseph Henry Moser Barn is considered the last known barn still preserved within Silverton's boundaries. Theater and opera performances have taken place at the site of the Palace Theater since 1905.

Excursions for Different Vacation Days

Another architectural destination is the Gordon House. It is the only building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that was constructed in Oregon. During 45-minute tours, visitors learn about Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian vision and the house's journey to Silverton. Coolidge McClaine Park on Silver Creek has play equipment for two age groups, reservable picnic areas and a covered pavilion with a kitchen and BBQ grills.

For a longer day in nature, Silver Falls State Park is located in the wider area around Silverton. There, several miles of trails lead to up to 10 waterfalls; the trails can be explored on foot, horseback or by bicycle. For garden visits and excursions into nature, however, the wider surrounding area should be included in your planning.

More places to consider when planning your trip: Turner, Scotts Mills, Salem, Woodburn, Stayton, Detroit, Keizer, Sublimity.

For the higher-level travel overview: Marion.