Category: Special tours and events

The Groundbreaking Women of Salem Walking Tour

Posted on by bhmsalem in Events, Special tours and events

The Groundbreaking Women of Salem Walking Tour

The Groundbreaking Women of Salem Walking Tour

Saturday, May 16, 2026 through Sunday, May 17, 2026

Time:

2:00pm – 3:30pm

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Description:

Take a trip back in time during this special tour where we learn about the women of Salem who were devoted wives, mothers, teachers, gardeners, and philanthropists.

The tour starts at Deepwood on Saturday, May 16th at 2pm, where we will get a glimpse of the lives of Willie Bingham and Alice “Alla” Bretherton Brown Powell and tour through their house and gardens.

At 2:30pm, we tour the living legacy of sisters Sally and Eugenia Bush at Bush House, where they will be talking about the beloved community members and lifelong gardeners of Bush’s Pasture Park.

On Sunday, May 17th, the tour begins at 2pm at Salem Pioneer Cemetery, where we delve into the lives of Chloe Willson, a teacher and landowner; Mary Kinney, Oregon Legislator and suffragist; Charlotte Dickinson, teacher and ministry; and Tabitha Brown, teacher and co-founder of Pacific University. 

From there, we will see where the Bush family was laid to rest at Pioneer. We will conclude at City View, where the women of Deepwood were laid to rest.

Tickets are $30 each. Pre-registration is required to help us prepare for the event.



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Cost:

$30 per person. Pre-registration required.

All proceeds benefit the care, preservation and programs of both Deepwood Museum & Gardens and Bush House Museum.

Location:

Deepwood Museum & Gardens, 1116 Mission Street SE, Salem, OR 97302 (Free parking located off of 12th & Lee streets.)
Bush House Museum, 600 Mission St SE, Salem, OR 97302 (Free parking is available next to the museum in the lot off of High Street. Additional parking is available off of Mission Street.)
Salem Pioneer Cemetery, 2201 Commercial St SE, Salem, OR 97302 (Parking along Hoyt Street).
City View Cemetery, 390 Hoyt St SE, Salem, OR 97302

During this special tour as we will be visiting various locations, please be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, grass, and gravel paths. Please dress accordingly. The tour will go on rain or shine.

Contact:

Call us at 503-363-1825 with any questions.

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BUSH HOUSE MUSEUM EXTENDED 90 MINUTES TOUR

Posted on by bhmsalem in Special tours and events, Uncategorized

Sunday June 7, 2026 From 1:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. | Bush House Museum

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But Wait! There’s More!
During the standard Bush House Museum (BHM) tour, we run out of time before we run out of stories. What to do? An extended, 90 minute tour, of course. Let’s snoop in some closets, whisper some rumors and might there be a scandal? And how does that contraption work?

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2026

Time: The tour will begin promptly at 1:30 pm and will conclude at 3:00 pm.
Please meet your tour guide, Robin Cunningham, outside on the front porch before heading into the Museum as a group. 

Location: Bush House Museum, Mission Street Southeast, Salem, OR, USA

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We plan to schedule more tours in the future. To be notified of future tours, please join the waitlist!

Bush House Museum Architecture Tour: History and Mysteries

Posted on by bhmsalem in Events, Special tours and events

Sunday May 17, 2026 From 1:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. | Bush House Museum

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Back by popular demand!  Please join us for the Bush House Museum historic architecture tour.

Feel the magic as we explore the Bush House Museum inside and out. What is its style of architecture and where did it originate? What’s the love story behind why Asahel Bush II insisted upon this style? 

Discover the stories of fascinating people who contributed to the house design and construction.  Admire the work of a family that fled religious persecution in Bohemia and became the most sought-after marble craftsmen in 19th century New York. 

Join us for an enlightening tour of the beauty and magic of the Bush House – with a few mysteries and oddities for good measure!

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026

Please meet your tour guide, Kathy, outside on the east side of the House to view the exterior architecture before heading into the Museum as a group. 

Location: Bush House Museum, Mission Street Southeast, Salem, OR, USA

Tour guide:  Kathy Lingo is a retired architect and a docent at the Bush House Museum. She enjoys discovering the stories that historic buildings can tell.

This tour is limited to 12 attendees. Register earlier rather than later, registration closes on Friday, May 15 and we can not accommodate walk-ups.

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Heritage Talk – 1863 Salem Scandal: When White Elites Defied Custom to Attend a Black Wedding

Posted on by bhmsalem in Events, Special tours and events

Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
| Bush House Museum

We are excited to continue our lecture series, Heritage Talks. This series offers a deeper look into the rich history of the Bush House Museum. Brian Waldo Johnson will talk about the 1863 Salem Scandal.

African Americans Richard Bogle and America Waldo were married in Salem on January 1, 1863—the same day the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

The wedding quickly became notorious across the West Coast due to the unprecedented attendance of prominent members of White society at a Black wedding. This presentation will explore the backgrounds of those in attendance, the circumstances that made the event so extraordinary, and the hostile reaction from much of the press, which viewed the wedding as a bold assertion of equality.

Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Time: The talk will begin promptly at 2:30pm and will conclude at 3:30pm.

Location: Bush House Museum, Mission Street Southeast, Salem, OR, USA

About the presenter:

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About the presenter:

Throughout his professional career Brian Waldo Johnson has focused on the collection and analysis of research data in both the biological and social sciences, most recently as Associate Research Fellow at Western Oregon University. Since retiring in 2018 he has turned his research skills to family genealogy and Oregon history, with a main focus on members of the Daniel Waldo family and their relatives, including America Waldo Bogle. Brian also regularly provides historic research on early Oregonians for his daughter’s archaeological company.

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This talk is capped at 25 guests, so please be sure to register to hold your spot! 


The recommended ticket price is $20. Our ticket fees directly support the work we are doing at Bush House Museum. Please consider adding an additional donation in support.

*At the Salem Art Association, we prioritize inclusivity. To ensure that our arts and culture events remain accessible to all, we have set aside a limited number of free tickets. Please reach out to laura@salemart.org if you would like a promo code to waive the admission fee.