Dear Visitor,

Welcome. As mayor of Ashland, Oregon, it is a pleasure to invite you to explore our town and its rich history. After your virtual tour, we would be delighted if you find time one day to visit us in person as well. Ashland is nestled near the head of the scenic Rogue River Valley in an exquisite part of Oregon known colloquially as the "State of Jefferson," a non-existent state but a wonderful part of Oregon and the northwest.

Known for its scenery and mild climate, with the Cascade mountain range joining the Siskiyou mountains just a few miles south of town, Ashland is also a historically and culturally rich community. We are home to the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a world-class repertory company, which performs eleven plays per year over a nine-month season. The festival has three theaters in town including a unique open-air Elizabethan replica and a soon-to-be-completed state-of-the-art smaller theater. Southern Oregon University, a 5000-student public university, has made its home here for more than 75 years. Ashland and the surrounding Rogue Valley are host to many other fine performing musical and arts groups and galleries.

Historically and today, Ashland is one of America's finest small towns. Originally the site of a Takilma Indian village built on Ashland creek, the town of Ashland was founded in 1852 with a mill established on the creek and a downtown "plaza" developing nearby. A north-south railroad link followed soon afterward, and Ashland thrived as a key terminus of a stage route over the rugged Siskiyou Pass to California. Today, the downtown plaza remains the hub of Ashland, which has retained its charm and centrality, along with its many historic buildings.

As Ashland's mayor, one of the things in which I take particular pride is our city's commitment to its historic heritage. We invite you to enjoy the "virtual" tour laid out here for you, and then to come see us in person one day. Our city web site, www.ashland.or.us, can help you make plans for that.

With all best wishes,

John Morrison, Mayor
Ashland, Oregon