Salem Witch Museum

19 1/2 Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970, USA

Address:	19 1/2 Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970, USA
Phone:	+1 978-744-1692
Site:	salemwitchmuseum.com
Rating:	3.5
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Benjamin Whitney

I was disappointed by this museum. The tour is set up in two parts: a presentation in an auditorium that outlines the history of the 1692 witch trials, and a guided tour through the museum proper that outlines the history and evolution of witchcraft generally. The presentation that starts the tour is well done. You sit in the center of the auditorium and all around you are various exhibits that detail certain prominent scenes during this year of hysteria. The lighting is dynamic and well-timed. The presentation is delivered by a dramatic and engaging narrator. This is the definite highlight of the experience. Following the presentation, youre led into the museum and the second portion which talks about the shifting perceptions of witchcraft. While I feel that this theme is necessary for the museum, it doesnt carry enough weight to engage the visitors. My tour guide clearly knew about the small exhibits, but that isnt enough for this museum to be worthwhile. This period in American history is a time of collective embarrassment, so its likely that efforts werent taken to preserve the history as it was happening, but aside from the wooden beam that supported the roof of the original Salem jail, there were no artifacts. Ill concede that primary sources may not exist from this time, but clearly they know what happened at the time, so unless the entire history they present is based on anecdotal evidence, I expect at least a re-creation of the original documents or something that involves me in this time period. This museum couldve been in Boston, or Chicago, or Denver and it wouldnt be demonstrably different. This event happened over 300 years ago, and Im sure Salem has changed a lot in that span, but the museum was built there due to what I can only assume as a nominal connection. If youre in Salem already, you have an hour to kill, $12 to spare, and arent familiar with Arthur Millers "The Crucible" the museum might be worth your time. Barring that, find a copy of the film (based on the play) and watch that instead. Miller altered some of the details, but as near as I can tell, his play brings the energy and hysteria of the Salem witch trials to light in a way that the museum simply did not.

Amy Lynne

If its your first visit to Salem, then you kinda have to do this one, just to say that you did it. Its not one of those things that youre going to want to do over and over, if ever again. I saw this exhibit about 20+ years ago, and Im not sure that much has really changed, except that the gift shop that you exit through now offers over-priced Harry Potter merchandise. The initial presentation does give a good synopsis of the Salem Witch Trials and it was informative and the wax figures are very well crafted. That part was decent. After the initial presentation, there is a very weak presentation given by a tour guide (I think the guide we had was giving his first presentation ever) that kinda-sorta explains the progression of the perception of witchcraft/Wicca. It wasnt completely uninteresting but there was a lot of pointless filler that they could have done away with. The whole experience was about 30-45 minutes. The $12 admission is probably more than the whole thing is worth, especially when you can be entertained by a feature length movie for a couple of hours for less, but its all about doing those "must do" activities when you go to Salem, so its really not too over the top. Again, if its your first visit to Salem, its worth the visit but its not enough to warrant repeat visits. Besides, it will probably be the same, even if your next visit to Salem is 20 years from now.

Matthew Worley

I was overall disappointed in my experience here. The "museum" was broken down into two parts. The first part was a large room with dioramas around the sides depicting various scenes from the times. Everyone was corralled in and we sat down listening to a 30 minute long prerecorded monologue describing what happened during the Salem Witch Trials with a large emphasis on how it was all pretty much just girls giving in to mob mentality. The voice itself sounded like it came right out of a 1950s PSA. The second part of the tour was a small circuit around more dioramas, showing various cultural depictions of witches and finally how wiccans dress in todays society. It felt forced how much they pushed that witches arent bad and theyre just like the rest of us. The most disappointing part of this is that there was not a single "piece of history" so to speak. Nothing from Salem during the actual Witch Trials: the things youd expect from a museum. This place couldve been anywhere and probably would fit better at your local cyclorama. To top everything off, the front of this building is fake. You can see the normal brick on the sides of the building. Maybe it was just me but I really thought this place wad built into an old church or something.

Sean Turconi

This was like sitting through a lecture on slavery as told by the KKK. It was so completely lopsided, I was nearly beside myself. They made the Puritans out to be animals basically because of the Salem Witch Trials which ended the lives of 19 people. Im not shooting for moral equivalence, but they neglected to mention the negatives about Wicca and the positives about the Puritans. Its told from a modern-day, ultra liberal perspective. Read a book! I used to be into paganism in my younger years and read countless books that were pro-paganism that told of wild outlandish acts committed by pagans in the name of their "religion". Im not apologizing for the Puritans who played a part in the witch trials, but Im telling you...this is a ridiculously lopsided Wicca propaganda bait-and-switch situation. You think youre going to learn about the trials, then all of a sudden, youre sitting through a preaching session about Wicca and also how bad Christians are. NEVER WOULD RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE LOOKING FOR A HISTORICAL/SCHOLARLY TUTORIAL ON THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS!

Stephanie Bermudez

Although I did enjoy the contents of the museums and learned a lot, I must agree with the other reviewers when I say the museum was more on the outdated side and "cheesy". I was expecting way more than what was presented. But it was interesting to learn about the hysteria, how it started and how bad it was back in those times. The museum consisted of an audio recording while the group was in a dark room, and there were scenes that lit up to go along with the audio recording. The best way I can explain the "scenes" are wax mannequins which are still figures and each light up, again, while the audio recording is playing. Additionally I was disappointed at their gift shop. It seemed extremely Harry Potter-ishly. I was excited to purchase a souvenir that was unique and everything there was ordinary. I could have bought at any store during Halloween season. Not disappointment at the information I learned, but the museum could have DEF been more. It did not have any unique "IT" factor about it.

Courtney Stout

I wanted to give this tour 3.5 stars, because it was more than OK, but I think there might be better tours/museums out there that might be of better use of time and money. I really enjoyed my entire time in Salem, and am in no way looking to bash on anything, but I want to give an honest review because I know people turn to these reviews when researching what places they want to see when they tour Salem. The first part of this tour was very interesting, the presentation they show that covers the basics of the Salem Witch Trials was very informative and interesting. It gave me good background knowledge for when I took the Hocus Pocus tour and learned more in depth what took place during the trials. The next part was a little dry and the tour guide wasnt as enthusiastic or dressed for the part as I have seen other tour guides. I was with a group that got in for a discount price, so I felt it was worth my time and money. But had I paid full priced I might not be feeling the same.