THE SALEM HISTORY JOURNAL
Field notes from 1692
Stories, facts, and the people behind the Salem Witch Trials. Written by the historians who lead the tours. No folklore for the sake of it. Just the history, told straight.
Featured • 6 min read
Forget the Myths and Legends - This Salem Tour Proves the Truth is Scarier
Salem’s reputation runs on ghost stories. But once you know what actually happened here in 1692, the real record turns out to be far more unsettling than anything invented for a haunted house. Here’s why.
Deep dive
The Salem Witch Trials:
A Day-by-Day Chronicle
From the first fits in the parsonage to the final pardons – the year of 1692 laid out in the order it happened.
For educators
Salem School Field Trip
Why Teachers love 1692 Salem History Tour
How a two-hour walk turns a textbook chapter into something students remember.
A life remembered
The Defiant Legacy of Giles Corey
“More Weight.” The two words an old farmer spoke as they crushed him, and why he refused to give his accusers what they wanted.
A life remembered
Rebecca Nurse: Resilience in Salem
A frail 71-year-old grandmother, respected by all, until a jury changed its own verdict. Her case shook the town’s faith in the trials.
A life remembered
George Burroughs: The Minister’s Tragic Fate
He recited the Lord’s Prayer perfectly at the gallows, something no witch was supposed to do. The crowd nearly stopped it. Nearly.
Trip planning
20 Best Things to Do in Salem, MA
A local’s honest list. The places worth visiting and how to book tickets.
A life remembered
Susannah Martin:
History Revisited
Sharp-tongued and unafraid, she laughed at the charges against her. The court didn’t find it funny. A closer look at a misunderstood woman.
A life remembered
Sarah Good:
The Tragic Story of a Poor Woman Accused of Witchcraft
Her life, marked by tragedy and poverty, made her the perfect target for accusations of Witchcraft.
Where they lie
The Final Resting Place
of the 20 Victims
They were denied a proper burial, so where are they now? What the record says about where the twenty were laid to rest.
Setting it straight
5 Misconceptions About the Salem Witch Trials
No one was burned at the stake. That’s just the start. Five things almost everyone gets wrong about 1692.
Quick answers
3 Common Questions About the 1692 Salem Witch Trials
Who started it? How many really died? Could it happen again? The short, honest answers to what people ask us most.
Historic buildings
The Witch House and its Link to 1692
The Salem Witch House stands as a silent witness to one of the darkest chapters in American history.
THE SALEM DISPATCH
History worth reading, once a month
New stories from the trials, forgotten names, and what’s happening in Salem – sent straight from the people who walk these streets every day. No spam, ever.