Keizer Photos

Wheatland Ferry
Convenient River Passage 

The Wheatland ferry is a ferry carrying vehicles, their drivers and pedestrians across the Willamette River near Keizer, Oregon.  The ferry is a terrific 'shortcut' for those traveling between Salem and McMinnville on the west side of the Willamette River, or travelers between Keizer and Woodburn on the east side of the Willamette River.  Without the Wheatland Ferry, many Willamette Valley travelers would have much longer routes.

The ferry crosses the Willamette River for nearly 600 feet and is powered by two electric motors via an onboard diesel generator.  Two cables support the ferry, one overhead on the on the upriver side and one underwater on the downriver side.  The cable assists in steering.

Each ferry is named Daniel Matheny with a roman numeral after it.  The current ferry was launched in 2002 and named the Daniel Matheny V.  The current ferry can carry nine cars.  For more information about the Wheatland Ferry, visit www.WheatlandFerry.com

Wheatland Ferry
Serving Keizer area residents since the 1850's!
 

Keizer Photo History

Willamette Mission State Park   Lovely surroundings imbued with Oregon history.

Keizer Area History

Rev. Jason Lee           1803—1845 Born in Quebec, Canada, Methodist missionary Reverend Jason Lee worked tirelessly to educate and preach to Native Americans in the Oregon Territory.  Much of his work took place in what is now Keizer, Oregon.  Jason Lee's noble efforts have lasting significance today, for in 1842 he also founded what became Salem's Willamette University, the oldest university in the west.  This means Willamette University's beginnings are actually older than the state of Oregon, since Oregon statehood did not occur until 1859.

The Reverend Lee Returns

Lee Mission Cemetery Entrance