Salem's History

You are invited to a place where 375 years of American heritage and maritime history come alive, to a place where you will become immersed in the stories that shaped this nation. You are invited to America's Bewitching Seaport - Salem, Massachusetts.

Only in Salem, Massachusetts can you climb aboard a reconstructed 1797 merchant ship, tour America's oldest continually-operated museum and immerse yourself in the stories surrounding the Salem witch trials of 1692 - all in the same day!

Salem's stories include the history of its name - which means "City of Peace" - and the seventeenth-century conflicts that occurred shortly after the name was given. Early settlers struggled to survive in Salem, and their struggles have left a mark on this city that has endured nearly four centuries.

You may recognize Salem from your history lessons. This was where the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692 happened. It all began in the winter of 1692 when some girls fell ill and blamed members of the community for their affliction. Hundreds of innocent people were accused during the hysteria, and ultimately 19 men and women were hung and one man was pressed to death. Learn the details of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 at the Salem Witch Museum, the Wax Museum of Witches & Seafarers and the Witch History Museum. You can become a part of recreations of the trials at the Witch Dungeon or Cry Innocent.

There is much more to Salem than the trials of 1692. Salem industries have included fishing, shipbuilding, overseas trade - where millions were made by Salem sea captains! In the nineteenth century, the industrial revolution brought leather tanneries and cotton mills to Salem.

America's first millionaires lived in Salem. They made their money in overseas trade, and brought plenty of precious cargo and money home to Salem. The legacy of their wealth lines Salem's streets in the forms of incomparable architecture and unique museums. Their legacies can be witnessed at the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of the Seven Gables, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and the Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House.

Salem's military heritage begins in 1636, when the first muster occurred on Salem Common. Today, the National Guard traces its roots to that first muster. Salem residents and supplies contributed to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, French & Indian War, Spanish War and World War II. From Salem privateers roaming the seas during the Revolution to the Coast Guard storing seaplanes at Winter Island during World War II, Salem has a proud military history. You can witness this proud heritage through the Nathaniel Bowditch Trail, the new Armory Park (being dedicated May 4, 2002) and through the museum exhibitions and historical markers throughout the City.

Salem has been a popular destination for hundreds of years. Visitors include Presidents George Washington and John Quincy Adams, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, and artists Maurice Pendergast and Edward Hopper. Not to mention Elizabeth Montgomery, who stopped by Salem for a visit with the cast of Bewitched to film several episodes.

So, join us in Salem for a day, a weekend or longer. You will find historic hotels and cozy inns and that will fit your needs - whether they be a family suite, or something a bit more romantic, and restaurants serving up delicious cuisine to satisfy every taste!