Salem Witch Museum

Salem Witch Museum Telling the story of the innocent victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692 since 1972.

We are looking forward to celebrating North Shore Pride in Salem on June 27th! To learn more visit www.northshorepride.o...
06/20/2026

We are looking forward to celebrating North Shore Pride in Salem on June 27th! To learn more visit www.northshorepride.org.

On June 19th, 1866, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation and liber...
06/19/2026

On June 19th, 1866, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation and liberating the last enslaved men and women in the United States from bo***ge. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, let us also remember these hard-won victories and the progress still essential for our future.

Pictured here is a celebration of this momentous day in Richmond, Virginia in 1905.

If you are visiting Salem today, there are some excellent free events taking place, such as the Juneteenth Jam. Check out the event schedule posted by Creative Collective to learn more!

https://www.salem.org/event/juneteenth-jam/

Best-known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the Stark Trek franchise, George Takei is a remarkable actor, author, and acti...
06/18/2026

Best-known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in the Stark Trek franchise, George Takei is a remarkable actor, author, and activist. In this stunning, award-winning memoir, Takei revisits his haunting childhood as one of 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned in internment camps by the United States government during World War II.

In the concluding sections of this work, he poignantly states, “’[This] remains part of the problem— that we don’t know the unpleasant aspects of American history, and therefore we do not learn the lessons those chapters have to teach us. So we repeat them over and over again.”

Today marks the 251st anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Have you ever seen this portrait of the famed battle? It...
06/17/2026

Today marks the 251st anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill. Have you ever seen this portrait of the famed battle? It is amazing to note that multiple descendants of individuals involved in the Salem witch trials are included in this painting!

Don’t miss our event “Our Founding Mothers and Fathers: More Revolutionary War Connections to the Salem Witch Trials.” This free virtual program will take place on Thursday, September 17th at 1:00 pm. Please note, registration is required for this event.

www.salemwitchmuseum.com/event/our-founding-mothers-and-fathers-2

On this day in 1692, Roger Toothaker died at age 58 of natural causes in the Boston jail. He had relocated to Salem some...
06/16/2026

On this day in 1692, Roger Toothaker died at age 58 of natural causes in the Boston jail. He had relocated to Salem sometime before his arrest from Billerica, an area in Middlesex County, and had abandoned his family without any aid.

Roger Toothaker's education is unknown, but he referred to himself as a doctor and as one who was skilled in counter magic and the healing arts. Indeed it was most likely his boasting of folk magic knowledge that attracted witchcraft accusations to not only himself but also his family, including his wife and three of his children. He claimed that he knew how to find and kill witches, reportedly teaching his daughter Martha to collect the afflicted person's urine, place the urine in a pot, place it in a hot oven, and the next morning the witch would be dead.

Ultimately, Roger Toothaker's words were used against him and he was arrested. He died in jail before his trial.

Image courtesy of Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Archives, Massachusetts State Archives, Boston, MA.

On this day in history, a group of local ministers submitted a letter urging the witchcraft court in Salem to proceed wi...
06/15/2026

On this day in history, a group of local ministers submitted a letter urging the witchcraft court in Salem to proceed with caution.

This “Return of Several Ministers” acknowledged the severity of the situation and danger experienced by the bewitched witnesses, but warned against the use of spectral evidence. Though this controversial testimony was by far the most dominant sign of witchcraft in 1692, it had never alone been enough to convict someone for this capital offense in colonial Massachusetts.

By now, an innocent woman had been sent to the gallows, with more soon to face trial. Evidently, some were uneasy about the court’s rash methods.

These learned ministers now urged greater caution. The ghostly apparitions sighted by the afflicted were not to be trusted for “’tis an undoubted and notorious thing, that a Demon may, by God’s permission, appear even to ill purposes, in the shape of an innocent, yea, a virtuous man.” They similarly warned against the use of folk tests, for they did not hold up to the standards of the law.

Unfortunately, this advice did nothing to temper the behavior of the court. It would be months before the Governor finally took decisive action to slow the witchcraft panic.

Have you ever read Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona? This beloved children’s story tells the tale of an old Italian witch who...
06/13/2026

Have you ever read Tomie dePaola’s Strega Nona?

This beloved children’s story tells the tale of an old Italian witch who entrusts a young man to help with her household chores. After seeing Strega Nona singing to her magic pasta pot, the young man causes chaos as he tries to work the magic for himself!

Though best known for Strega Nona, Tomie dePaola was the author of 270 children’s books. In 2011, he received the Children’s Literature Legacy Award from the Association for Library Service to Children.

DePaola came out as gay later in life, once telling the New York Times that for much of his career, “If it became known you were gay, you’d have had a big red ‘G’ on your chest… and schools wouldn’t buy your books anymore.”

Here are some scenes from last weekend's Salem Arts Festival, put on by Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective MA Th...
06/12/2026

Here are some scenes from last weekend's Salem Arts Festival, put on by Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective MA

The annual Salem Arts Festival spans three days, showcasing community art, talent, and culture.

Attendees were able to enjoy a wide variety of local vendors in the artisan market, live performances, live mural painting, as well as the opportunity to participate in a community art project.

Featured here in our post is Salem's 2026 Public Artist in Residence, Erin Survilas. The PAIR engages the local community through art and programming throughout Artist Row's operational season.

Were you in attendance to this year's festival?

Are you planning a trip to Salem this summer? Are you wondering what will you see at the Salem Witch Museum? Two unique ...
06/11/2026

Are you planning a trip to Salem this summer? Are you wondering what will you see at the Salem Witch Museum?

Two unique exhibits delve into the fascinating history of witchcraft. In our main theatre, visitors are immersed in the world of 1692 Salem as an audio-visual experience presents the story of these tragic events.

A docent-led tour of our second exhibit “Witches: Evolving Perceptions” explores the long history of the witch, from its dark origins to modern definitions. Visitors see real artifacts relating to the witch trials period and history of magic, including numerous items connected to Salem’s infamous witch hunt.

Our museum is open seven days a week. We currently offer presentations every half hour from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased on our website on the day of your visit.

On this day in history, Bridget Bishop was hanged for the crime of witchcraft. Though she was not the first arrested dur...
06/10/2026

On this day in history, Bridget Bishop was hanged for the crime of witchcraft.

Though she was not the first arrested during the Salem panic, years of gossip and suspicion were stacked against her. As an argumentative woman married to her third husband, she appears to have been distrusted by numerous neighbors. Many were willing to come forward to attest to misfortunes which followed a clash with Goody Bishop. It seems her case was carefully selected by the Crown’s Attorney General for just this reason.

Sadly, Bridget Bishop was far from the only person targeted for the crime of being quarrelsome or different in 1692. Today, we remember this innocent victim, the first to hang during the Salem witch trials. Let us never forget these events hold essential lessons for those who are willing to listen.

Address

19 1/2 Washington Square N
Salem, MA
01970

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(978) 744-1692

Website

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