Best Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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