Salem Ghost Tours

The Witch House, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing with direct ties to the trials. Corwin conducted preliminary examinations of accused witches here before they faced the Court of Oyer and Terminer. The house has been restored to its 1692 appearance and offers guided tours explaining trial procedures.

The Salem Witch Trials Memorial, dedicated in 1992 on the 300th anniversary, lists all twenty executed victims on granite benches. The memorial's design—incomplete sentences carved into stone thresholds—represents how the accused were cut off mid-defense by their accusers.

The Peabody Essex Museum holds original trial documents including examinations, depositions, and death warrants. These primary sources offer unfiltered access to the voices of accusers, accused, and judges.

The Charter Street Cemetery, also called the Old Burying Point, dates to 1637 and contains graves of Mayflower passengers and witch trial judge John Hathorne—ancestor of novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, who added the 'w' to distance himself from his family's role in the trials.

None of the executed witches are buried in Salem's colonial cemeteries. Their bodies were denied consecrated ground and disposed of near the gallows. The Charter Street Cemetery does contain graves of accused witches who died in prison before trial, including Sarah Osborne.

Howard Street Cemetery holds the grave of Giles Corey, pressed to death when he refused to enter a plea. According to legend, his final words were "more weight." The cemetery, smaller and less visited than Charter Street, has a more intimate atmosphere.

Evening walking tours combine witch trial history with later ghost stories accumulated over 400 years of Salem history. Tours typically last 90 minutes and cover about a mile of downtown Salem, visiting the Witch House, Charter Street Cemetery, the Witch Trials Memorial, and various haunted taverns and homes.

History-focused tours separate documented trial facts from legends that developed later. The best guides acknowledge when stories entered the record and distinguish between primary sources and folklore.

October tours book weeks in advance and operate with larger groups. For a more intimate experience, visit during shoulder seasons when guides have time for questions and smaller groups allow access to sites that can't accommodate crowds.

The Peabody Essex Museum, one of the oldest continuously operating museums in America, holds an exceptional collection of witch trial documents and Salem maritime history. The museum's East India Marine Hall and period rooms provide context for colonial Salem beyond the trials.

The House of the Seven Gables, built in 1668 and inspiration for Hawthorne's novel, offers tours focusing on the Turner family history and Hawthorne's connection to the property. The house predates the witch trials by 24 years.

The Salem Witch Museum presents a dramatic retelling of the trials using stage sets and life-size figures. While not historically rigorous, it provides a visceral introduction to the events for visitors new to the story.

The Hawthorne Hotel, built on the site of an apple orchard once owned by Bridget Bishop—the first person executed in the trials—reports regular paranormal activity. Room 612 and the sixth floor in general have the most reported incidents.

Some tour operators offer paranormal investigation experiences with EMF detectors, spirit boxes, and other equipment. The Joshua Ward House, built on the site of Sheriff George Corwin's home, allows investigation by appointment.