Salem Witch Museum

Step back in time to 1692 with a visit to the Salem Witch Museum. Experience the darkness of the Salem Witch Trials, learn about the changing interpretations of witches through the years, and get a closer look at the frightening phenomenon of witch-hunting that's still prevalent in the present day.

Your tour begins with a dramatic presentation based on actual documents from the trials. Through the use of life-size figures, stage sets, and stirring narration, you can feel as if you've been transported through time to 17th-century Salem. Learn about the origins of the witch-hunting mania, the factors the spurred the craze, and the 19 men and women who were put to death by hanging, as well as more than 150 who were sent to jail.

In the second exhibit, a live guide takes you through the evolving interpretation of witches, from the prophetic sisters in Macbeth to Elizabeth Proctor in the Salem Witch Trials to the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz. Hear about the ancient origin of Wicca and its role in society today, and then learn the tried-and-true formula for a witch-hunt—fear plus trigger equals scapegoat. See how this equation has led to catastrophic examples of contemporary witch-hunts, like the internment of Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the McCarthy hearings on Communism. By shedding light on this formula, the museum hopes to prevent further iterations of these heartbreaking events.