Located between the Siskiyou Mountains and the Cascades, the city of Ashland is a cultural and recreational mecca in southern Oregon. Home to the acclaimed Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the largest classic repertory theater in the country, the Ashland Gallery Association also proudly notes that, in John Villani's book The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, the city of 19,000 is named one of the country's top 10 towns in which to buy art.
The city's 19-acre Lithia Park, which is a gem striking enough for being home to one of the most varied collections of trees and shrubs of any park in Oregon (landscaped by John McLaren, who also designed San Francisco's Golden Gate State Park), is also known for its namesake springs, the sulfurous, mineral-rich water of which is piped to the park's three fountains. The spring water is rich in lithium, which was used by Native American tribes to treat their sick and elderly, long before its uses were tested by Western science. In the summer, the park's bandshell hosts varied events including concerts, ballets, and silent movies.
Ashland is known for its tasteful commercial development, including a dearth of neon and billboards. Historic neighborhoods are home to numerous Tudors and Victorians, and the city has high property values. But its strong identity as a tourist destination can also mean high-priced accommodations.
Ashland is located in southeastern Oregon, just north of the California border. To learn more about the area, please select a topic of interest from the navigation bar on the left.