Begin at the southwest corner of Liberty and Ferry Streets. Walk north one block to State Street.
At State turn east. The four story Guardian Building, a prominent professional office location, was across the street at this bank site until destroyed by fire in 1947.
As you approach High Street walking east, the Marion County Courthouse is on your right. It replaced a 1885 Victorian building demolished in 1952.
Also at High Street, looking south, the profile of the handsome restored Elsinore Theater comes into view.
Beyond the 1926 Bligh Building on the corner (currently known as the Pacific Building) can be glimpsed the historic First Methodist Church, appropriately located on Church Street.
At Church Street, looking north, is a view of the Federal Building. The 1902 U.S. Post Office formerly on this site was moved on rollers east on State Street in 1936. It will be seen in its current location later in the tour.
The 185 foot steeple of the United Methodist Church is the tallest structure in Salem.
This 1878 church is Salem's heritage from our pioneer missionaries and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The church sanctuary was placed on the second level of this building because of frequent flooding of the Willamette River.
The beautiful window above the entrance of the former BPOE Club gave a view from the elegant ballroom. This building, at Cottage Street, was constructed in 1925 and was occupied by the Elks until 1993 when it was purchased by the church.
Diagonally across the intersection is Willson Park, the site of Salem's earliest civic plat, originally pioneer mission property.
Continuing east, across Cottage Street, a 1960s portion of the Bell Telephone Building has been converted into a Willamette University art museum.
This museum contains a collection of Northwest Native American artifacts and works of Oregon artists.
The four floors of the 1930s Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Building Building tower above the neighboring Hallie Ford Museum of Art.
The doorway retains its original integrity.
The beauty of the building is reflected in this corner view.
The YWCA occupied the Roberts home on this site until 1953 when the residence was replaced with this building designed by Pietro Belluschi. In 1971, the Carnegie Library to the east was purchased and transformed into the Youth Wing.
The Carnegie Library retained its exterior facade through the years it served the YWCA. Here it is currently after an interior renovation by Willamette University.
In 2008, before completion of the remodel as the Oregon Civic Justice Center, signs indicated the construction company and the new purpose of this historic building.
Across Winter Street from the Carnegie Library is the beginning of the Willamette University campus.
On the corner is the historic 1907 Oregon Medical School. From 1913 to 1920 it housed the Willamette Academy, a college preparatory school. Other departments occupied the building until 1977. The Department of Art moved in following a major renovation.
Turning south at this corner, a small Japanese Garden snuggles along the back wall of the Art Building.
To the south on Winter Street is the Lausanne Building, named for the ship who brought a reinforcement of missionaries to Oregon in 1842.
Formerly on this site was the home of pioneers Willam and Chloe Willson, moved here in 1881 from its original location on Court Street. Used as a dormitory for women until 1919, it was replaced by this building in 1920.
After passing the Lausanne Building, turn left into the campus.
When the path divides, turn left again heading for the red brick buildings in left background of this photograph.
Our Capitol tower rises beyond Waller Hall. The "star trees", so named for the view of light above when standing in the center of these five trees, are to the left.
The path leads along the south side of Waller Hall. Cone Chapel on the second floor was once a Methodist sanctuary. It now hosts educational meetings as well as religious services.
If Chapel doors are open, step inside to see the latest transformation of this early Salem sanctuary and read the inscriptions on the windows.
Next along the path is the Eaton Building.
Eaton Hall was built in 1908-9 with a $50,000 grant from Mr. A.E. Eaton, the owner of Union Woolen Mills. It was remodeled in 1983.
Continue along the path, turning right, heading for the Chinese Dogs statuary seen to the right in the distance.
Walton Hall is on the site where the original Institute building once stood. An interpretive marker is seen here.
Another view of the memorial marker.
This commemorates the first building on the campus, erected in 1841 by Jason Lee for an Indian Mission School. From 1844 to 1872 it served Willamette University. The marker was sponsored by the class of 1926.
The Chinese dogs were a contribution from the Grabenhorst family.
An interpretive plaque gives information about these artifacts.
As you walk back toward the center of the campus, take the path to the right at the second lamppost.
Another right takes you south toward the Mill Race and the Hatfield Library.
The view to the left at the bridge over Mill Race. The Library to the right.
The view to the right at the bridge. The Mill Race is flowing before the viewer toward the west and downtown Salem.
A collection of memorabilia donated by Senator Mark O. Hatfield is displayed on the second floor.
Continuing south on the path, the entrance to the campus is directly ahead.
The fountain and statuary as it is seen on entering the campus on Mill Street from the south entrance on Bellevue Street.
Turn to the left and follow this path toward Bellevue.
As you pass the last Willamette building, do not be tempted to use this aerial walkway ~ it is intended for Tokyo University students and is not open for pedestrians to cross 12th Street.
Willamette University athletic fields are to your left.
At Bellevue Street, turn left, heading toward the Salem Railway Station.
At Bellevue and 12th Street, the historic Salem Railroad Station is to your right. This was once the busy hub of Salem passenger and freight transportation.
Cross carefully at busy 12th Street.
If you wish to make a slight detour south, the restored Station is well worth a visit. Now on the AMTRAK route, it was the departure point in 1941-2 for families of Japanese descent who left Salem enroute to the relocation camps.
Walk north on the 12th Street sidewalk toward Mill Street.
Cross Mill Street at this intersection with Mission Mission Museum ahead.
Turn right, crossing railroad tracks and passing under aerial walkway to Tokyo University, a Willamette University facility.
At the paved walkway beyond the tracks, turn north. This is a pleasant walk to Court Street and you may even get a close-up view of Amtrak as it whizzes by.
If you decide to visit Mission Mill Museum, there is a gate on Mill Street and one ahead of you (open every day except Sunday).
Mill Race flows from the former mill and under the street on the way to Willamette University and downtown.
A description of this museum and a history of the mill is found on this website under Historic Sites.
The Marion County Historical Society is housed in this former mill office. Information about this organization may be found on this website.
As you approach Court Street, notice the former Post Office in its current location. It is now Gatke Hall of Willamette University.
In the early years of Salem history, the city (to your left) stopped here at the 12th Street railroad tracks. To the right were farmlands and the earliest suburban residences.
Two blocks east (in this direction) is the 14th Street entrance to the Court-Chemeketa Historical Residential District. This was one of Salem's earliest residential neighborhoods.
Cross Court Street.
Turn left and cross again, beginning the return to downtown Salem.
To your right is the 1914 Oregon Supreme Court Building.
To your left, the imposing entrance to Gatke Hall. Imagine this stone structure wheeled on rollers for 5 city blocks to this destination: it took 6 months.
Construction near Gatke Hall will soon conceal this beautiful section of the building.
Crossing here at Waverly Street will take you to the Capitol grounds.
Enter capitol ground here. Note the markers identifying the different species of trees.
The memorial to Methodist Circuit Rider preachers is ahead.
An inscription honors the devotion of these early Oregon pioneers.
The approach to the Capitol from the east. A memorial to John McLaughlin stands at the corner of the building. Fragments of columns still remind residents of the 1935 fire that destroyed the former State House.
This is an interpretive marker for a few column remains.
A statue commemorates Jason Lee, founder of the Willamette Mission.
Oregon's Medal of Honor awards are commemorated near the entrance to the Capitol.
Stepping into Court Street, look across the street to view the North Capitol Mall . This park and state buildings were constructed between 1937 and 1957. The Mall replaced the dignified residential neighborhood of Piety Hill. Many fine homes of early Salem families were demolished, a few remain in new locations.
Turning to front of the Capitol, the whole marble structure is in view.
The statuary group to the left of the entrance commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Step inside these entrance doors to see the Lobby, lofty interior of the Tower and staircases leading to Legislative Chambers. The Galleria displays many historic photographs.
As you leave the Capitol, the statuary group to your left honors the pioneer families who settled the Willamette Valley.
Coming out of the Capitol, the 1937 Oregon State Library is across Court Street to your left. The first of the Mall buildings, it was erected on the site of the home of Thomas Kay, owner of the mill we have just passed on our walk.
The interior of the State Library is enhanced by art and sculpture as well as important collections of historical documents and photographs. On display is an 1871 scroll of 23 feet illustrating the history of the world from Adam up to that date.
Continue walking along the path to the west of the Capitol, entering Willson Park. The circle of flags commemorates our 50 states.
Looking back at the west side of the Capitol from Willson Park and through the circle of flags.
The fountain ahead is the replacement for the historic Waite Fountain, destroyed by the wind storm of 1962. Colored lights on the former fountain entertained nighttime park visitors for many years.
The beaver is early symbol of Oregon and is seen here in a family statuary group. A crow in this photograph has just completed a successful hunt for the next meal.
The center of the park.
A bandstand has always been a part of Willson Park. This one has been moved to a new location and is now not as prominent in Salem summer entertainment..
Looking south toward State Street. The former Carnegie Library can be glimpsed beyond the trees.
The Library again ~ from across the street in 2008.
Landscaping complete, this is its appearance in 2010.
Looking west along State Street where we the began our walk. The former YWCA to the left (designed by Pietro Belluschi), the Bell Telephone Building with Hallie Ford Museum of Art to the right.
Back in Willson Park, walking west toward Winter Street.
The Breyman Fountain marks this end of the park and the United Methodist Church can be seen again.
The 1904 fountain (actually a water trough) was for both horses and dogs. The original decorative statue at the top fell off and was never replaced.
Now on Cottage Street, walk south a few steps to return to State Street.
A glance back into the park.
At this corner the Hallie Ford Museum of Art is across the street.
Turn west (to your right) walking back toward Church Street.
Bicycles are becoming more frequent on our city streets. Looking ahead two blocks to Liberty Street where the walk began, our only skyscraper, popularly known as the Livesley Building, rises its 11 floors.
In the center of the block between Church and High Streets, stands the back wall of the Capitol Theater. It was adjacent to the Bligh Building at the corner at High Street and owned by the same family.
The Bligh (or Pacific) Building again.
At the High Street corner, glance north, to the right, and see the former Odd Fellows Hall, Grand Theater and and adjoining Terminal Hotel.
Across the intersection is the former Masonic Temple, now restored as the Franklin Building. Look up to see the Moorish decor decorating the exterior.
Halfway down the block between High and Liberty streets, a parking lot gives a view across an alley and up to the rear of the restored Metropolitan Building. New loft apartments are attracting residents back to the city.
Back at Liberty Street, the next block along State Street offers interesting shops and restaurants in historic buildings.
At the Livesley Building, you may turn south to return to the beginning of the walking tour.
Cross Liberty Street at the next intersection to be back where the walk began. Descriptions of the historic buildings seen in this tour are listed under Historic Sites on this website.
