The TRUTH is scarier than the LEGENDS!
20 Best Things To Do In Salem Ma [Visit Salem]
Planning a vacation to Salem, Ma.? Here are the best sites and activities to add to the to-do list.
Take a journey through 400 years of history with a local historian and real-life Witch as your guide. Uncover the secrets of witch city as we dive deep into the events surrounding the 1692 Salem Witch Trial.
Are you ready to unlock the secrets of one of the darkest chapters in American history? Look no further than our immersive Salem Witch Tour.
This 2-hour walking tour is the most comprehensive tour on the Witch Trials in Salem, Ma.
As you walk through Salem to visit historical sites, you will hear a jaw-dropping story covering Salem before the trials, what caused the witch hysteria, who were the judges and accusers, how residents responded to the accusations, who were the 20 victims, and how it all ended.
Buy your tickets before they sell out!
Hermetics has the best readers in Salem. Get $5 off when you purchase a tour ticket with 1692 Before and After Historical Tours. Tour tickets are also available in this store.
Located at 115 Derby Street, this house was the home of merchant shipowner John Turner. The house was made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 Novel The House Of Seven Gables. Salem also has a statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne located at 20 Hawthorn Blvd.
Explore the events of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials with two presentations at the Salem Witch Museum. The first presentation consists of thirteen life-sized stage sets, figures, and narration that walk you through the events of 1692. The second presentation explores the meaning behind the word Witch and the evolution of the image of a witch over time. It focuses on the European witch trials and the background leading to the Salem Witch Trials.
This Museum recreates the atmosphere of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials with live actors. You can also check out the guided tour of the dungeon. A replica of the dungeons the accused were held in while awaiting trial.
The house was built in 1675 for Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials judges. It is the only house in Salem with direct ties to the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
This is one of the stops on 1692 Before and After Historical Walking Tour.
7. Honor the 20 Salem Witch Trials victims at the Witch Trial Memorial.
This memorial is dedicated to the 20 innocent victims of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. As you enter the Memorial, you will see the victim’s protest inscribed on the threshold. The six locus trees represent the injustice of the trials as they are the last to flower and the first to lose their leaves every year. Along the stone walls are 20 benches with the names and execution dates of each of the 20 victims.
This is one of the stops on 1692 Before and After Historical Walking Tour.
8. Explore the Old Burial Point Cemetery.
It was established in 1637 and is one of the oldest cemeteries in the united states. Several people with ties to the Salem witch trials are buried here. Judge John Hathorne and Judge Bartholomew Gedney. Reverend Nicholas Noyes was the assistant minister during the trials.
This is one of the stops on 1692 Before and After Historical Walking Tour.
9. St. Peters Church
This church was built on the land of Philip English. English was the wealthiest merchant in Salem and was accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. English and his wife escaped to New Your with the help of two Boston Reverends. When he returned in 1693, he found Sheriff George Corwin had confiscated his belongings. He died in 1736 at the age of 85. He is buried in the churchyard.
This is one of the stops on 1692 Before and After Historical Walking Tour.
10. Find the grave of Judge Jonathan Corwin and Sheriff George Corwin at the Broad Street Cemetery.
This Cemetery is the Second oldest Cemetery in Salem, established in 1655. The graves of Judge Jonathan Corwin and Sheriff George Corwin are in this Cemetery.
This seaside Public Park is one of Salem’s treasures. The Willows is an excellent location to spend the day. Grab some food, play in the video arcade, have some of New England’s best popcorn, enjoy a picnic or relax on the beach.
It covers nine acres of land along the waterfront, including 12 historic buildings and a replica 18th-century ship.
This Salem Village was built in the 1930s and is Amarica’s first living history museum. The buildings exemplify colonial-era architecture and what the early settlers would have lived. This historical attraction should definitely be on your to-do list.
If you have ever wanted to dress up in witch clothes and pose for a fun artsy photo, this is the place to go.
15. Visit Proctors Ledge.
Proctors Ledge is where 19 people were hanged during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. After they were hanged, their bodies were thrown in a shallow grave on this site. Some of the victim’s families removed their bodies in the dark of night and buried them elsewhere.
16. Read a stone at the Howard Street Cemetery
This Cemetery was established in 1801 and is the resting place of Several Revolutionary War Soldiers and others. The oldest stone is of Benjamin Ropes, who was crushed to death while launching the fore-topmast of the ship Belisarius. Before this Cemetery was established, it was a field, and the building you see next to it was the old Jail. This location is believed to be where Sherriff George Corwin pressed Giles Corey to death.
This is one of the stops on 1692 Before and After Historical Walking Tour.
Built-in 1660 for John Pickering. Col. Timothy Pickering was born here in 1745. Timothy served as a Quartermaster General in the Revolutionary War. He was the third United States Secretary of State under Presidents George Washington and John Adams. He also represented Massachusetts in both houses of Congress as a member of the Federalist Party.
18. Take a stroll at Pickering Wharf.
Home of the Friendship of Salem, a replica tall ship. Just past the Friendship dock is the Pickering Wharf Lighthouse, a great spot to watch the sunrise.
19. Go shopping at Essex Street Pedestrian Mall
Full of great Boutiques, Stores, and Restaurants. The Peabody Essex Museum and some fun street performers are located at the mall.
Salem Haunted Happenings Festival runs through October and is a city-wide celebration with numerous parties, fairs, karaoke tents, and parades.
A great time to book a walking tour with 1692 Before and After. Book your tour in advance.
Visit Salem on one of our Salem Walking Tours, Salem Witch Tour, Salem Night Tour, Salem Day Tour, or Salem History Tour
Other Blog Posts
The 1692 Salem Tour: A Walk Through History
Our 1692 Salem Tour allows visitors to step back in time and explore the memorials and landmarks that define the Salem Witch Trials legacy. Discover the stories of the twenty executed victims and uncover the tales of other notable figures who played pivotal roles in the trials. Explore Salem with a historian who will lead you through the cobblestone streets, providing insights into the events of 1692 that are seldom considered and discussed. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect with history in the very place where it happened.
