William P. Johnson and Elizabeth Walker were married in Marion County on October 11, 1857. Soon after, they purchased a half block of downtown Salem and made it their home. William operated a successful painting business and was instrumental in helping create a school for Salem’s Black children to attend when the city refused them entry to the public school system. Join us as we walk to the site of the Johnson family’s home and visit other places important to the family’s experiences in Salem along the way.