Visiting the Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum. Photo/C. Danko © 2001-2009
It is every museum's goal to make the past come to life, and the Salem Witch Museum comes closer than most with a haunting presentation played out along the walls of a room that museum guests are ushered into. Visitors sit around a pentagram with names of victims of the Salem witch trials in the darkened room. Meanwhile, light travels slowly along the walls, lighting up the three-dimensional historical scenes one by one as a deep voice explains the events that led to 19 people being hanged and one pressed to death for witchcraft in 1692.
What is a witch? Hollywood portrayals are contrasted with olden-day and modern-day witches in a follow-up presentation that explores that question. The 20- to 30-minute museum visit is a helpful educational refresher for a visitor to the spooky city, and it's a good place to bring kids. The museum store is also worth spending a few minutes in after the museum presentation, as it sells a thoughtful collection of books exploring witchcraft.
Getting There
The museum is located in the center of Salem, on Route 1A across from the common. From Route 128 (I-95), take either the exits for Route 114 or Lowell Street and follow the signs to downtown Salem.
