July 2009 -- After Boston, Mom and I went to Salem. Salem is famous for its 1692 Witch Trials, in which more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Twenty were executed. Eventually, all were exonerated. The Salem Witch Museum is Salem's most visited museum. The museum uses life-sized dioramas and first person narrations to tell the story of the witch trials. It was a good museum, as museums go. Other than the museum, there wasn't too much to see (in Salem) related to witches.
Salem Witch Museum
"Official Witch of Salem"
Derby House: oldest brick building in Salem
When you're done learning about witches, there are some historical cemeteries that you can visit in Salem. The Old Burying Point Cemetery is the oldest and one of the oldest in the US, c. 1637. It is the final resting place of many notable Salem residents, including judges involved in the witch trials. The Old Burying Point Cemetery is the only place with an original gravestone of a Mayflower passenger
Historical cemetery
Tombstone of Mayflower passenger
Salem is also home to the House of Seven Gables, a 1668 colonial mansion made famous by Nathan Hawthorne's novel of the same name. Hawthorne's birthplace is nearby. The mansion was built by a wealthy sea captain and merchant. It is open for tours. It was a so-so attraction. We ate at a nearby restaurant. I remember eating a soggy pork BBQ sandwich. The things you remember!
House of Seven Gables
Statue of Nathaniel Hawthorne
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