Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking Tour

based on 501 reviews

Duration:1 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Location: Salem, Massachusetts

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This fascinating tour will go deeper into the trials than most others. You will hear personal stories of the accused, why some of them got accused and the reasons why people testified against them. It was a combination of motives and each person's story is different. We will use a combination of story telling, pictures and maps to paint the truest picture of what was really going on during the infamous Salem Witchcraft Trials. Discover the somber and harrowing events that occurred before, during and after the trials on this walking tour in Salem.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. Salem Historical Tours & Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour
Examine the demographics, theories and personal stories comprising the dire events of 1692. We will bring you to many of the locations that are full of witch trial history. Many of the structures are long since gone except for a few, but we know where they were located. This is a fascinating tour that will shed new light on what happened during the infamous witchcraft hysteria which turned neighbor against neighbor. The guide will go to as many of the following stops as possible and maybe not in the order listed.
2. Salem Witch Trials Memorial
Dedicated in 1992, this bench style memorial is in remembrance for the 20 innocent victims of the 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials. Each bench has the name of the person, how they died and the date. You will learn the symbolism of the memorial and hear some of the stories of the victims.
3.
Now a popular restaurant located in the center of historic Salem, Rockafellas (aka the Daniel Low and Co. building) was the original site of the First Church of Salem, as well as the city meeting house in 1692. It is located in the center of town and played a role in the witch trials.
4.
Now the Merchant Hotel this is the site where George Corwin's house once stood. He was the High Sheriff of Essex County in 1692 and was responsible for signing arrest and execution warrants of the innocent victims of the trials. He took people's personal property and was caught torturing a few people in his home.
5. Witch House
The Witch House is the only remaining Salem structure with direct ties to the witch trials of 1692. It is the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. He used to meet in his house with Judge Hathorne and discuss who could be a witch. The house dates back to the 1660s.
6.
The Salem YMCA is on Sewall Street that was named for judge Stephen Sewall of the Witchcraft Court. Nine-year-old Betty Parris was moved here in July of 1692. She was the daughter of Rev. Parris. The house is long gone, we will tell you about Betty and her cousin's role in starting the witchcraft hysteria.
7.
Turner's Seafood is in Lyceum Hall that was built on land once owned by Bridget Bishop (the first woman executed in 1692) and her husband Edward. You will learn her incredible story and how a town was convinced she was a witch. It took eight days for her arrest, trial and execution.
8. Witch Dungeon Museum
While the museum isn't tied to the 1692 Witchcraft Trials, it is an example of how people were jailed. They were put in small jail cells the size of a phone booth or closet. And they had to pay for their own jail time. You'll hear the stories of the jailing process and you'll also get a photo op in the pillories (aka stocks).
9. Bewitched Statue of Elizabeth Montgomery
Take a picture with Samantha Stevens, America's beloved with. Learn about the episodes shot in Salem and discover whose land the statue sits on. It is rather ironic.
10.
The Witchcraft Court - called the court of Oyer and Terminer - was located in the middle of Washington Street in front of the present Masonic Building. Most of the trials were held in this location. Additional trials were held here in January 1693. You'll hear some of the travesties of the decisions by the court. One of the accused was declared innocent by the jury but the judges nullified the decision.
11.
The Witchcraft Jail is gone but it was located at this location. It was one of many jails in the greater Boston area used during the trials. You will learn some of the names that were jailed here including Giles Corey, who was the man they crushed during an interrogation. Some prisoners died in jail

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Posted By : ROBERT_K
Very informative about Salem and the Witch Trials. Our tour guide Christine was terrific. It was about a 90 minute walking tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-26 09:53:24

Posted By : GoPlaces743327
Roger is a great guide. We learned so much about Salem's history from him and had so much fun talking to him. Highly recommend the tour and Roger.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-22 10:28:21

Posted By : chriscZ6379MF
Went on 18th June in very hot weather. Tour Guide was very friendly and enthusiastic; I also asked plenty of off topic/non-witch related questions to which the guide was again enthusiastic and knowledgeable, suggesting additional sites to visit.

Would recommend to any visitor to the town! We highly recommend!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-20 01:19:15

Posted By : teresamb2023
The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Salem and the witch trials. We enjoyed his knowledge and the tour.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-17 22:24:48

Posted By : rebecca_s
Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and always open to questions. Loved the tour. Loved Salem!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-17 09:10:39

Posted By : Traci_M
The host was great and the tour was interesting…..the tour didn’t end where it started and we got turned around for a while to get to the car
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-16 17:39:23

Posted By : Kyle_F
My tour guide was passionate and personable and did a good job of acting out several historically relevant events through dialogue. However, I found the narrative of my tour somewhat confusing without a linear sequence of events or much background on the key historical figures - it basically consisted of isolated snippets of dialogue that didn’t help to explain the history of the witch trials. I think it would be more cohesive and comprehensible with the history to link the narrative together.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-15 14:15:59

Posted By : ChristineSmyth1111
This was an awesome tour. 4 of us, ages 9-40, and we all enjoyed and appreciated it. Very knowledgeable and factual, which we very much look for with these sort of tours. Tour guide (Roger) was very enthusiastic! We loved it. The only negative, (which was no fault of this tour), was the other tour group businesses using microphones and stopping next to us. They were very obnoxious. Our tour guide did not need a microphone, therefore not disturbing other people around town. Excellent job!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-10 14:32:16

Posted By : Olivia_T
So much to learn. This was a true historical tour and not the over dramatic hokie tours. Paid respect to the women and men who fell victim to this horrible take. FIVE STARS
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-31 09:55:19

Posted By : Lisa_D
The guide was professional and knowledgeable. Unfortunately as far as walking tours go there wasn’t much walking. At the first stop we stood in the same spot for 25 minutes! There was also a bit too much reference to sites we would not be seeing because they were torn down long ago. I have to wonder who designed this tour as there didn’t seem to be enough of a story to support a walking sightseeing tour on witchcraft. Lecture in a hall, perhaps. Walking around, I didn’t get it.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-29 15:43:34