Virginia Green is turning 100, and the city she's spent a quarter-century documenting wants her to know it noticed.
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy declared July 9 as Virginia Green Day, honoring the historian whose online archive, walking-tour guides, and civic board service have shaped how residents understand their own city. The proclamation, posted on the City of Salem's official Facebook page, celebrates what Hoy called Green's "exceptional contributions to the community over 25 years."
Green is the author of SHINE on Salem (shineonsalem.org), a sprawling digital archive that catalogs a profile for every year of Salem's history from 1860 to 2017, a photographic inventory of historic homes across all 18 neighborhoods, self-guided walking tours, and Salem Lifelines, a series profiling women who shaped the city's development.
The 2017 endpoint marks the most recent year profiled as of publication.
Beyond the website, Green has served on the Library Advisory Board, the Historic Landmarks Commission, and the City Budget Committee. She also appeared on Willamette Wake Up, the morning show on KMUZ 100.7/88.5 FM, to discuss SHINE and her milestone birthday.
According to Press Play Salem, residents can celebrate Thursday, July 9, by taking one of Green's self-guided historic walking tours, visiting a local heritage site, or exploring the SHINE on Salem archive at shineonsalem.org.
The site's Marion County 20 travelogue profiles all 20 towns in the county, and its neighborhood heritage section offers photo catalogs for anyone curious about the house down the street.
No public ceremony or gathering has been announced for July 9.
Upcoming Salem Summer Events
- Hoopla 3X3 Basketball Tournament — Tuesday, July 21, through Saturday, July 26, downtown Salem. Details at oregonhoopla.com.
- B-17 Birthday Cruise-In — Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., B-17 Alliance Museum & Restoration Hangar at McNary Field. Vintage vehicles and the B-17 bomber known as the Lacey Lady on display. Details at b17alliance.com.
