Salem Everywhere

As an Oregonian, the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word "Salem" is my state capitol. The next thought I have is of the witch trials that took place in the 1600s in Massachusetts. Here is a list of some of the famous Salems that you might have encountered.

Salem, Oregon. This Salem comes first because I'm an Oregon and Oregon's Salem is my state Capitol. This town sits right on the Willamette River and is where the state governing takes place. It is also the halfway point between Eugene and Portland, two of the largest cities in Oregon. The Oregon State Fair is held here every year.

Salem, Massachusetts. This is probably the most famous Salem in the country. The people of this Salem relish their rich history and now the town is billed as the Northeast's Bewitching Seaport. This town is where the famous witch trials were held in the 1600s. Arthur Miller wrote about these trials in his famous play, The Crucible. Today there are plenty of psychics and fortune tellers on hand who practice their craft free of reprisal and the Salem witch museum is the town's most popular attraction. The town has many historical sites still preserved from the famous witch trials of 1692.

Salem, Virgina was founded at the turn of the nineteenth century in the Shenandoah Valley, right between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Alleghany Mountains. Today a little more than twenty thousand people live and work in this community which is a favorite stop for visitors to the famous Shenandoah Valley. Roanoke College is located here as is the National College of Business and Technology.

Salem, New Hampshire was first settled more than three hundred and fifty years ago in 1652. It got its name from the Salem in Massachusetts as it was originally part of that state until the colonial lines were redrawn. This Salem is home to the United State's first racetrack and America's Stonehenge (originally named Mystery Hill by William Goodwin) a tourist attraction whose origins are largely debated. It is also home to the Searle's Castle at Windham—a real castle with twenty rooms that was built in 1915 by Edward F Searle's as homage to his Harcourt family ancestry.

Salem, Missouri can be found right in the middle of the Ozarks. Like the rest of the communities in the Ozarks, the residents of Salem pride themselves on their long and rich tradition of arts and crafts. To learn about this artsy town, visit any of the town museums where you will find artifacts from the town's history. This town is home to the Ozark Heritage Museum, the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History and the Ozark Country Music Show!

There are plenty of other Salems across the United States but these are some of the most famous. While, arguably, most people conjure up the idea of witches when they hear the word Salem, there are many other places of the same name that are worth exploring!

For more information on Salem, visit http://www.salemmicroblog.com and http://www.fullertonmicroblog.com.