Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation)
About this property
The Oregon State Fair is the official state fair of the U.S. state of Oregon. It takes place every August–September at the 185-acre (0.75 km2) Oregon State Fairgrounds located in north Salem, the state capital, as it has almost every year since 1862. In 2006, responsibility for running the fair was delegated to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, and the division is now known as the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center (OSFEC), which holds events on the fairgrounds year-round. As Oregon agriculture expanded in the early 19th century many communities formed agricultural associations for the purpose of sharing information on farming practices and resources. These groups began to organize county fairs such as the Yamhill County Fair (1850). Shortly thereafter the Oregon Farmer newspaper began calling for a statewide fair. A group of farmers known as the Oregon Fruitgrowers Association organized the first unofficial state fair in 1858. That year is recognized as the official anniversary year of the fair. In 1860, the association merged with other county groups and became the Oregon State Agricultural Society, who held the first official fair in 1861 in the Gladstone/Oregon City area. It was felt a larger area was needed and following a proposal by the Marion County Agriculture Society, the second official state fair was held in Salem in 1862 on the grounds of the Marion County Fair, where it has remained ever since. Homesteader John Savage donated 8 acres (32,000 m2) of his land, which was three miles (5 km) outside of Salem at the time, while pioneer John Minto contributed $1,200 to build a wooden fence around the grounds. The fairgrounds were annexed into Salem in 1921. The fair has been held every year on the same site, except in 1905, because the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was taking place in Portland that year, and during the World War II years of 1943 and 1944; instead the fairgrounds were leased to military units as a place to bivouac. Also, although the 1942 fair was held, it was scaled back to only include 4-H displays, livestock exhibits, and displays from 27 Oregon counties, so it was not considered an official State Fair. The fair was also canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 1967, an arson occurred just before the opening of the fair, burning several large structures. Along with the fair commissioners, Governor Tom McCall felt the fair should go on, so many groups donated time and money for the cleanup and sent facilities like tents from as far away as the Portland Rose Festival so the fair could open. The state fairground is the site of two historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble. The 1919 horse stadium and the 1921 poultry building were added to the register in 2002. The poultry building is known for the "chicken head" relief sculptures that decorate the exterior. The horse stadium is the oldest state building in Oregon in continuous use.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation) listed on the National Register?
Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 2002.
What type of historic resource is Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation)?
Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation)?
The period of significance for Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation) is recorded as the civil_war era, specifically around 1862.
Can I research the history near Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation)?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble (Additional Documentation) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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