Gezicht op het stadhuis, een douanekantoor, de rechtszaal en een treinstation in Salem 1879

This anonymous print presents a composite view of municipal architecture in Salem. While undated, this picture likely comes from the late 19th century, a time when many American cities sought to portray themselves as centers of progress and civic order. The image creates meaning through a collection of illustrations depicting the town hall, custom house, courthouse, and train station. Each building signifies a different aspect of Salem's civic structure, hinting at the interplay between governance, trade, justice, and transportation that defined the community at the time. Salem’s geographical location as a port town would have made it an important entry point for trade, making the custom house a particularly important institution. This artwork's vision of civic life is progressive in its desire to showcase the town's institutions as modern and well-functioning. To understand this artwork further, historians might consult local archives, census data, and historical maps. These resources could give us a fuller understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that shaped the town of Salem and influenced this anonymous artist.