What to Do in Monmouth, Oregon

Monmouth -- a small city in the Salem, Oregon, metro area with around 10,000 residents -- was originally home to the Luckiamute band of Kalapuya Indians. It was named for the home of its earliest settlers, 21 pioneer families from Monmouth, Illinois, who traveled to the area to develop the city around a Christian college, known today as Western Oregon University. With prohibition a founding principle of this once faith-based community, Monmouth was the west’s longest-standing dry town that didn’t begin selling alcohol until 2003.

Take a Trip Back in Time

• Three self-guided historic city tours -- through the East Main Street Historic Area, Historic Downtown and Western Oregon University -- take you to the sites of existing and former structures of significance for the city and its founding families. Among them are the oldest private structures still standing in town: Craven House, built on east Main Street in 1869, and Campbell Hall on the Western Oregon University campus, which dates to 1871.

Imbibe on Local Wine

• More than 250 wineries -- about two-thirds of the state's total -- are located in Willamette Valley, where the city of Monmouth is situated. Monmouth-based Grand Cru Wine Tours can arrange a personalized excursion of the region with a driver, or you can visit winemakers within the city limits on your own. Take a tour of the vineyards and sample a flight of wines at the tasting room on Emerson Vineyards on Airlie Road, and then visit the adjacent 3 Fools nanowinery for a taste of its latest small-batch production. From March through November, Airlie Winery on Dunn Forest Road features a seasonal tasting room overlooking a pond and a covered picnic area where you can pop a cork on a pinot gris and enjoy a leisurely lunch in the sun.
• Do an Art Walk

• Browse the renovated historic Campbell Hall Gallery at Western Oregon University, where six art exhibitions rotate during the school year and another is unveiled each summer. The River Gallery cooperative downtown showcases works of art and handcrafted items made by Polk County artists. The Monmouth Farm and Craft Market -- where you can snag handmade goods and home décor alongside freshly picked flowers, fruit and produce -- opens Wednesday and Saturday evenings from May through November across from Main Street Park.

Free Fun in the Summer

• Entertainment and events gratis abound in July and August in and around Monmouth. Bring a blanket for the Music in the Park series on Wednesday nights for a trip through musical genres in Main Street Park. Sprawl out your blanket and take in the tunes while enjoying on food and beverages you can buy in the park. Take a quick jaunt 2.5 miles east to Independence for the River's Edge Summer Series at Independence Riverview Amphitheater for free movies on Thursdays and complimentary concerts on Fridays.

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Sights to See Near Monmouth, Oregon

Come for the wine, stay for the good times. Tucked within a vintner’s paradise, Polk County’s Monmouth attracts less attention than other Oregon destinations, but deserves a second glance. Founded by settlers from Monmouth, Illinois, in 1856, the city displays characteristics typical to a seeded community, perfectly accommodating a rustic getaway with its entrenched-yet-aware culture and fresh, provincial atmosphere. Take advantage of your next visit and see the many sights of Monmouth, Oregon.

Historical Monmouth

• Upon entering the tiny city, notice the resemblance Monmouth bears to historic 19th-century towns of the Pacific Northwest, with a cornice-lined Main Street bisecting downtown and a covered bridge just out of town. Indeed, the 1856 town is rich in history, and encourages visits to its many heritage sites. The Gentle House -- one of the city’s original structures, located just north of Western Oregon University -- and the Brunk House -- a combination model home and museum 10 miles northeast of Monmouth -- exhibit 19th-century living in Polk County. 18 miles southwest of Monmouth, the Ritner Creek Covered Bridge, the last covered bridge used on a U.S. state highway, stands perfectly preserved and on display. Additionally, Monmouth provides a free brochure and map that highlight the city’s notable landmarks and buildings for a self-guided historic walking tour.

Crafty Culture

• Modern Monmouth and neighboring Polk County towns pride themselves on a culture of creative community involvement. Salem, only 15 miles northeast of Monmouth, houses the Hallie Ford Museum of Art -- Oregon's second-largest museum, and one that has gained renown for its focus on historic and contemporary regional artwork. For a more intimate art-viewing experience, head to Independence, 3 miles east of Monmouth, to visit the River Gallery. The gallery privately curates and hosts inspiring collections of contemporary folk art, crafts and fine art by regional artist. From May to September, Dallas -- 8 miles northwest from Monmouth -- hosts the Polk County Bounty Market. Every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., the market features produce, food-fair, crafts from local farmers and artisans with accompanying live music.

Monmouth-Watering

• Polk County has gained a solid reputation for its wine production. It ranks as Oregon’s second-most prolific and successful vintage regions. The Mid-Valley Wine Trail is a collective of esteemed vineyards that participate in a yearly tour event, including each of their participating wineries north of Monmouth in the Dallas area. Similarly, the Heart of Willamette Wineries offer a summertime tasting tour -- June 21 to September 21 -- to sample the rich and complex notes in and south of Monmouth. Either tour is highly recommended to guide your Polk County wine experience, as there are more than 30 vineyards in the county that offer tastings.

Bucolic Beauty

• Although Monmouth is a city, its ambiance is anything but metropolitan. The verdant community neighbors several natural areas that accommodate hiking, water sports and wildlife viewing. Start by journeying to the southern region of Monmouth toward the E. E. Wilson Wildlife Area. The park’s comprehensive interpretive trail saunters through the woods and illuminates bird, fish, reptile and mammal diversity you will likely encounter. The McDonald-Dunn Forest, 22 miles south of Monmouth, houses the 40-acre Peavy Arboretum, which neatly highlights more than 150 local plant species and educates visitors on Oregon’s various ecosystems. Lastly, grab a paddle and hit the Willamette Water Trail -- a 187-mile river trail that runs from around Eugene to Portland. The Willamette River is a great recreational opportunity for any water sport, and the organized and interpretive water trail allows you to paddle, float or wade downriver between established camps and docking areas. The closest accessible dock is in Independence Riverview Park, just 3 miles east of downtown Monmouth.

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