Salem
Salem, Massachusetts
The site of the 1692 Salem witch trials. The Witch Museum, the House of the Seven Gables and maritime history sites make it busiest in autumn around Halloween.
Located about 25 kilometers northeast of Boston, Salem is famous for the witch trials of 1692. Its main attractions include the Salem Witch Museum, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, the House of the Seven Gables, which inspired Hawthorne’s novel, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), which holds Asian art and the entire Huizhou-style Yinyu Hall residence. Take a commuter train from North Station for about 30 minutes; in summer and autumn, a high-speed ferry also runs from Long Wharf in about 50 minutes. Throughout October, Salem hosts Halloween events, and weekends are extremely crowded.
Opening hours
Open all day; museums approx. 10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Boston Harbor Islands
- USS Constitution / Charlestown Navy Yard
- Bunker Hill Monument
- Old North Church
- North End
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
- New England Aquarium
- Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall