Burchfield’s Footsteps, a Walking Tour of Historic Salem

​    Charles Ephraim Burchfield (1893 – 1967) spent his boyhood in Salem dreaming of becoming an artist. As a young man, his energetic approach to painting in combination with his love of hometown and nature led to hundreds of images. Some of his best known works depict the buildings, neighborhoods, and forests of the area early in the 20th century.

    Follow Burchfield’s footsteps through downtown Salem and see many of the buildings he painted. Scan the QR code displayed in the windows along the route of Burchfield’s Footsteps to be taken to a page with an image of the painting, information about it, and a brief history of the building Burchfield painted.

​    Visit the Burchfield Homestead at 867 E. 4th St. on Sundays from May through October to see more of examples of the art inspired by local sites.  ​

Host Sites on the walking tour:
(Each has a QR code displayed to provide information about the site and the painting it inspired.) 
​

# 1, The Edge of Town, 1921 – 1941
South side of E. State St., west of Broadway.
Host: Salem Chamber of Commerce, 210 E. State Street.

#4, The Interurban Line, 1920
View is from Broadway, near Pershing, looking north.
Host: Ezio’s Italian Restaurant, 180 S. Broadway.

#6, February Thaw, 1920
Buildings rearranged, south side of State St., near Ellsworth.
Host: Salem High School Alumni Association, 330 E. State St.
  
#7, Main St. Salem - Winter Day, 1921 – 1941
North side of State St. west of Broadway
Host: Naragon Law Office, 248 E. State St.

#9, Three Days Rain, c. 1918
Corner of State St. and Penn Ave.
Host: Fairway Mortgage, 558 East State Street

#10, Back Alley No. 2, aka Twilight in the Alley, 1920
From alley looking across State St. at Penn.
Host: Crooked Tree Studio, 127 Penn Avenue

#11, Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night, 1917
Baptist Church, corner of State St. and Lincoln Ave.
Host: Hofmeister Realty, 675 E. State St.

#13, The Three Trees, 1931-46
​Former field at site of Salem High School.
 Host: Salem Public Library, 821 E. State St.