Salem Pioneer Cemetery Chinese Shrine Project

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Did you know that Salem had a Chinatown? In the mid- to late-1800s, Chinese immigrants came to the Willamette Valley. Records show they had businesses, homes, and a school. By 1903, Salem’s Chinatown was a half block of rundown buildings, and the Salem City Council ordered the entire area burned to the ground.

A Chinese Shrine in Salem Pioneer Cemetery may be the last remnant of Chinese American’s presence in Salem. Identifying and interpreting this historic place is an important part of preserving Salem’s history. A Chinese Shrine Advisory Committee composed of stakeholders and others interested in this project has been established.

Project updates

Experience the Chinese Quingming Festival

Committee Working to Locate and Preserve Historic Chinese Shrine

Project goals

As a Certified Local Government (CLG), Salem has access to grant money to fund research and preservation activities.

Survey and map the cemetery

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
Magnetometer

Excavate

Locate remainder of shrine
Recover associated artifacts

Develop interpretation on the site

Project team

The project team includes representatives from Willamette University, the Chinese Benevolent Association, the Friends of the Salem Pioneer Cemetery, and other interested parties. Other project contacts include:

Project Manager: Kimberli Fitzgerald, City of Salem Historic Preservation Officer
Project Archaeological Permit Holder: Jamie French, Oregon SHPO Archaeologist
Project GPR and Student Archaeologist Field Manager: Dr. Scott Pike, Willamette University
Research Assistant: Kirsten Straus, City of Salem Historic Planning Intern
Project Staff Assistant: Sally Long, City of Salem Planning Division

Project committee documents

Background

Chinese Americans along with African Americans and Native Americans are considered underrepresented communities. One of the priorities identified by the National Historic Preservation Act is to identify and interpret historic places associated with these communities.

Timeline

1841—Earliest burial in Salem Pioneer Cemetery
1903—Salem Chinatown burned to ground
1952—Capital Journal news article references a Chinese altar
1963—A Statesman-Journal article links the shrine to a 1916 flu epidemic
1985—City of Salem took ownership of the cemetery
2013—Salem Pioneer Cemetery listed on the National Register of Historic Places by Elisabeth Potter