1. In 1864, the Oregon legislature officially designated Salem as the state capital, replacing Oregon City.

2. On February 17, 1934, the groundbreaking ceremony for Timberline Lodge took place on Mount Hood. The lodge was built as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program and is now a popular ski resort.

3. Musician and songwriter James Mercer, best known as the frontman of indie rock band The Shins, was born on February 17, 1970, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Mercer grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon.

4. In 2005, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 struck off the coast of Oregon, causing minor damage but no injuries.

5. The Oregon State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1988. The building, which was completed in 1938, features an art deco design and is home to the Oregon Legislature and the offices of the governor and other state officials.