One Day Of History In Salem, Massachusetts

So, your planning a trip to Salem, Massachusetts? It’s such a charming small town. If you are looking at visiting Salem in the fall, check out One Fall Day In Salem. We may all know Salem for Halloween and witches, but there is a ton of history in this sleepy New England Town. To be completely honest, Salem is a madhouse in October! It’s a lot of fun but for some, it’s just not their cup of tea. If you are someone who doesn’t want the insane crowds of October in Salem, then this post is for you! Look no further than One Day Of History In Salem, MA…

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The Basics:

Where Is Salem?

Salem is a city on the north coast of Massachusetts above Boston. It’s most famous for the 1692 witch trials, during which several locals were executed for allegedly practicing witchcraft.

How Do I Get To Salem?

Salem is only a short drive from Boston…

Air

Fly into Logan International Airport in Boston. Logan used to be my home base airport, and I find that it’s easy to navigate.

Drive

Salem is just an easy 30-minute drive from Boston, about 2 hours from most locations in Central Massachusetts, and an easy day trip option for most of New England.

Where Should I Stay? 

The Hawthorne Hotel –

• 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970
• 978-744-4080 

This is a truly historic hotel; it was established in 1925 and is part of the Historic Hotels of America. It is in a great location, right across from Salem Common, and bonus it is often declared as one of the most haunted in America! Legend has it that the most haunted room in the hotel is Room 325, while Room 612 and the whole sixth floor have had reports of a ghostly woman walking the halls. 

Find out more here.

If haunted hotels aren’t your thing: 

Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites –

• 225 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
• 978-740-8788

If you prefer a modern-style hotel with all the typical amenities, then this hotel is for you! And bonus: this hotel is very well-located. The House of the Seven Gables and The Salem Witch Museum are less than a mile away. And if you love the waterfront then this is an excellent accommodation choice for you.

Find out more here.

The 15 Best History Spots In Salem

1. The Salem Heritage Trail –

If you’ve ever been to Salem, Massachusetts you may have noticed the red line running down the charming streets. That line marks the Salem Heritage Trail, a self-guided walking tour that takes you to all of Salem’s most visited and historical sites. Most of the best historical sites are on this trail! With a few fun witch sites thrown in too, like the Samantha Stevens Statue in town.

Find out more here.

2. Peabody Essex Museum – 

• Where: 161 Essex Street, Salem, MA 01970 
• Hours: Thurs – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm, Closed Mon, Tues, Wed 
• Cost: Adults $20, seniors (65 and over) $18, students (with ID) $12, youth (16 and under) and Salem residents free (does not apply to student tour groups).

The PEM is renowned as one of the best museums in New England. I’m going to be honest and say that while it’s a great museum I probably won’t be visiting again. I did love the East India Company wing and thought a lot of the exhibits, like a maritime art, were really cool. 

3. Salem Maritime National Historic Site – 

• Where: 160 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Daily 10 am – 5 pm

More information here.

Interestingly, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, was established as the first National Historic Site in the United States on March 17, 1938. This historic site consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. The park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England’s maritime history and global connections.

Things To Do In The National Historic Site:

4. The Friendship of Salem – 

The replica tall ship, Friendship of Salem, docked at Derby Wharf is designed to present the appearance an original 1797 Salem-built vessel. 

Friendship of Salem represents New England’s dominant role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade and in the economic and political development of the United States. When open (it is currently closed because of COVID-19), visitors can go aboard and engage with the volunteers and staff to experience Salem’s maritime history.

More information here.

5. The Derby House – NEW!

Where: 168 Derby Street, Salem, Massachusetts, 01970
Opening in the Spring of 2020.

The house was built in 1762 as a wedding present, this was the home of Elias Hasket Derby and Elizabeth Crowninshield Derbyvfor the first 20 years of their marriage. They lived here with their seven children and enslaved at least two people of African descent. The Derby family became one of Salem’s wealthiest merchants, their wealth was tied to their trade in goods produced by slave plantations in the Caribbean Islands.

More information here.

6. The Custom House – NEW!

• Where: 176 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970
• Opening Spring 2020. 
• Hours: Daily 10 am – 12pm, 1- 4 pm. 

The Custom House at Salem Maritime National Historic Site celebrates its 200th Anniversary this year! It is the last of 13 Custom Houses in the city. There has been a Custom House in Salem since 1649, collecting taxes on imported cargos first for the British Government during the Colonial period. 

More information here.

Outside of the National Historic Site:

7. The House of Seven Gables – 

• Where: 15 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Fri – Tues – 11 am – 4 pm 
• Closed Wednesday and Thursday
• Cost: $7 per person, all ages 

The House of the Seven Gables was built by a Salem sea captain and merchant named John Turner in 1668. It was occupied by three generations of the Turner family before being sold to Captain Samuel Ingersoll sometime in 1782. An active captain during the Great Age of Sail, Ingersoll, like any good sailor of the day, died at sea leaving the property to his daughter Susanna.  Who just happened to be a cousin of famed author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne’s visits to the house are credited with inspiring the setting and title of his 1851 novel, The House of the Seven Gables.

Learn more here.

8. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Birthplace – 

• Where: 27 Hardy St, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Daily 10 am – 7 pm 

Built in 1750 the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace was originally located on Union Street. It was purchased by The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association and moved to the museum campus in 1958. This house is special due to the event that occurred within the four walls on July 4, 1804. That’s right, Hawthorne was born on Independence Days! 

9. The Pickering House – 

• Where: 18 Broad St, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Sunday – 10 am – 3 pm

This house was owned and occupied by ten successive generations of the Pickering family including Colonel Timothy Pickering. This house is believed to have been the oldest house in the United States continuously occupied by one family. However, in 1998, the Goodhue family moved into the house, with Albert Goodhue as the primary caretaker.

10. Old Town Hall –

• Where: 32 Derby Square, Salem, MA 01970

If you are a fellow 90’s kid you may recognize Old Town Hall from the cult classic, Hocus Pocus. If so, my self guided Hocus Pocus tour is definitely for you, check back in a few weeks! But historically speaking, Old Town Hall is the earliest surviving municipal structure in Salem, Massachusetts.

The building itself dates from 1816-17 and is a great example of a Federal Style building. The second floor of the building, otherwise known as the Great Hall, has always been used as a public hall and contained Town offices until 1837. The first floor, originally designed as a public market, is now a public art space, in conjunction with Artists Row in the Marketplace.

Witch Trial Historical Sites:

11. The Witch House at Salem –

• Where: 310 Essex Street
• Hours: Daily 10 am – 5 pm
• Cost: Guided Tours: Adults $10.25, Seniors $8.25, Children (7-14) $6.25.
• Self-Guided Tours: Adults $8.25, Seniors $6.25, Children (7-14) $4.25
• Children under 6 free admission 

The Witch House, or the Johnathan Corwin House, was the home of Judge Johnathan Corwin and is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692. It’s cool to walk through this house and definitely worth a visit. The Witch House offers the latest research and    
scholarship on how the Salem witch trials began and the circumstances that brought them to an end.

Find out more here.

12. Salem Pioneer Village –

• Where: 98 West Ave, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Historic Tours Saturday and Sunday – 12-4, June Through September

2020 information: the village is open this weekend! Reduced occupancy self-guided tours are available every 10 minutes from 12-4. Face-masks and social distancing are required.

The Salem Pioneer village is meant to depict what life was like in 1630, and again, 90’s kids may recognize this as another Hocus Pocus filming location. The village was built in the 1930s to mark the tricentennial of Massachusetts, and it was America’s first living history museum. The village contains examples of colonial architecture including wigwams, thatched-roof cottages, a blacksmith shop, and the Governor’s Faire House. 

More information here.

13. Salem Witch Trial Memorial – 

• Where: 24 Liberty Street

In 1692, 14 women and 6 men were accused of being witches, they were tried, convicted, and eventually executed. To this day, the events of 1692 are used as a yardstick to measure the depth of civility and due process in our society. This a somber memorial featuring 20 stacked inscribed granite stones. The benches are inscribed with the names of the accused and the means and dates of their executions. It’s located right next to the Old Burying Point Cemetery.

More information here.

14. Old Burying Point Cemetery – 

• Where: 51 Charter Street
• Hours: Open 24 hours

I swear I don’t just hang out in cemeteries! This one is pretty special because it’s the oldest in Salem and among the oldest (second oldest to be exact) cemeteries in the United States. Opened in 1637 it is the final resting place of some of Salem’s most notable citizens through the ages. Such as Judge John Hathorne one of the witchcraft trial magistrates, as well as, Bartholomew Gedney, another of the witchcraft trial magistrates. 

These stones are incredibly old, so please, respect these hallowed grounds and don’t place coins on the headstones. 

15. Proctor’s Ledge –

• Where: 7 Pope St, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: 8 am – 8 pm

It was believed that the nineteen innocent people who were executed in Salem in 1692 were hanged at the summit of Gallows Hill, on the edge of town to the west. The exact site was never memorialized because let’s face it, this was a shameful event.

However, in 1921, local historian Sidney Perley believed he had located the spot of the executions, near the base of the hill on Proctor’s Ledge. His conclusion led the City of Salem to purchase part of Proctor’s Ledge in 1936, calling it “Witch Memorial Land.” The real execution spot was confirmed as Proctor’s Ledge in January of 2016. 

A simple memorial, designed by Martha Lyon, was dedicated in July of 2017, on the day of the 325th anniversary of the hangings of Sarah Good, Elizabeth Howe, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, and Sarah Wildes. Embedded in the semi-circular wall are stones engraved with the names of the nineteen victims.

BONUS: Salem Sips & Eats Guide

For Breakfast:

Red’s Sandwich Shop –

• Where: 15 Central Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Mon-Sat: 5 am – 3 pm, Sun: 6 am – 1 pm

Red’s is one of my favorite places to eat in Salem and I always take everyone there for breakfast. Red’s has been serving up award-winning breakfasts for over 50 years and it doesn’t hurt that it’s located in a really cool, old, historic building. The building dates back to the 1700s, known as the Old London Coffee House, it was a gathering place of Patriots before the American Revolution. Try the Lobster Benedict, mimosa, or the coffee (the BEST diner coffee).

Ugly Mug Diner

• Where: 122 Washington Street
• Hours: Daily – 8AM – 2PM
• Open for indoor, outdoor, takeout, curbside pickup

Whether you are looking for something light and a coffee or a big breakfast and a cup of tea this place has you covered. Try the espresso and enjoy it in a crazy mug!

For Lunch & Dinner:

Nathaniel’s Restaurant at the Hawthorne Hotel –

• Where: 18 Washington Square W, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30-11 am and Saturday- Sunday 7-11 am.
• 978-744-4080

A place to dine in historic style, Nathaniel’s according to their website, “offers a perfect start and end to any day. The morning hours are bright with the wall of windows, the plates are creative and include the well-known Seafood Benedict served over a delicious golden crab cake…In the evening, Nathaniel’s transforms into a lounge-like atmosphere, with candles, live piano, and acoustic entertainment or ambient music playing from our brass gramophone.” Sit beside the baby grand piano,  beneath Nathaniel Hawthorne’s portrait, or in front of the historical culinary tribute cabinet and you will find there is a reason our guests have loved Nathaniel’s Restaurant for decades.” 

Turner’s Seafood –

• Where: 43 Church Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours:Check for 2020 hours.

Although it may not seem historical, Turner’s Seafood is built on the spot of Bridget Bishop’s apple orchard. Bridget was executed in the Salem Witch trials. It was later the spot where Alexander Graham Bell first introduced the telephone. How cool?

Ledgers Restaurant & Bar –

• Where: 125 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Check for 2020 hours. 

A circa-1818 former savings bank found new life recently, and how cool is that? Rustic touches like exposed original brick, a wall of repurposed deposit boxes, and a long, wooden communal table, who doesn’t love those kinds of thoughtful touches?

For Fun:

The Bit Bar –

• Where: 50 St Peter Street
• Hours: Phase 3 reopening hours, Mon-Wed Closed, Thurs – Sun 4 – 11 pm 
• Open for dining, outdoor patio seating, takeout, and delivery 
• Patio is now dog friendly (how awesome?)

The Bit Bar is so much fun! From their game inspired drink menu to their yummy elk burger, this place did not disappoint. It’s been open for 3 years and gets incredibly busy during October. You see, Bit Bar features classic arcade and pinball machines!

Now lets get into the meat and potatoes – 

BONUS: Historic Shopping Guide

Ye Olde Pepper Candy Company –

• Where: 122 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
• Hours: Daily – 10 am – 5 pm

This is America’s oldest candy shop! Not to mention, the candy is delicious and the shop itself is so cute! A must see in my opinion. They are famous for their Gibralters, the first commercially sold candies in America. And Black Jacks, which are all made by hand just the way they were back in the 1800s.

More information here.

Waite and Peirce Authentic and Exotic Goods –

• Where: 193 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970 
• Hours: Daily – 10 am – 5 pm 

Salem shipping partners Aaron Waite and Jerathmiel Peirce, owners of the original Friendship, conducted business for almost 50 years from Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts. Their ships visited ports around the world, from the West Indies to Russia, to the Indian Ocean.

Waite & Peirce offers an exclusive line of apparel, jewelry, home goods, historical reproductions, collectibles, toys, and gifts. The shop features handcrafted locally made piece such as a handsome pottery by Henderson’s Redware or a tote bag made of recycled sail cloths by Sea Bags of Maine.

More information here.

Mini History Nugget: The Salem Witch Trials 

Salem, Massachusetts saw the perfect storm of cultural clashes in the late 1600’s.

Of course, all hell broke loose in 1692, the hysteria began when a group of young girls accused both men and women of practicing witchcraft. These “witches” supposedly influenced the young girls, who were then possessed by the Devil. It’s no surprise that Parris’ daughter Elizabeth (age 9) and his niece Abigail (age 11) were the first to start experiencing fits. The girls shrieked, made odd sounds, threw things, and contorted themselves into bizarre positions. The town doctor believed bewitchment was to blame. 

The first three women to be accused of practicing witchcraft were Tituba (Parris’ slave), Sarah Good, and the elderly Sarah Osborn. The accused were interrogated and asked to pass a series of tests but during these tests in court, the young accusers would scream and thrash on the floor making concentration impossible. 

There are so many amazing historical sites in Salem that you really can’t go wrong. Trust me, it’s a History Nerds dream destination! But if you are here for the craziness that is Salem in October, go for it! Have you been to Salem? Did you visit in October?

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