Salem Witch Museum

History of Haunted Happenings
2022-10-06 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
This year is an anniversary heavy year for us– as many of you may know! Not only is it the Salem Witch Museum’s 50th anniversary, it is also the 30th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and the 40th anniversary of Salem’s Haunted Happenings festival (both of which this museum was instrumental in creating).
Beginning in 1982 as a weekend-long, family-friendly fall festival, Haunted Happenings immediately surpassed all expectations, growing into an enormous annual celebration. Join us for this free virtual event as we discuss why this festival was created in Salem, its early days, and how it has grown and changed ever since! If you are a Halloween enthusiast, this is an event for you!
This presentation will take place on Zoom on Thursday, October 6th at 6:00 PM EST. We will record the presentation and share the recording on our YouTube page for future accessibility.

ZOOM LINK:https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89418491663?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Memorializing the Witch Trials
2022-08-19 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the creation of the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. Erected in downtown Salem in 1992, this was an important moment for the city, as Salem continued to process the legacy and significance of these tragic events as a modern community. During the years leading up to the 300th anniversary, the Salem Witch Museum’s Executive Director and Education Director focused almost exclusively on this project. Drawing on our archives, we will examine such topics as, the discussions around the need for a permanent memorial, funding, the design selection, tercentenary events, and the creation of the Salem Award. This presentation will also discuss how the memorial has been treated by visitors and the community since its unveiling.
Join us on Friday, August 19 at 6:30 pm EST for this hour-long, free virtual event. We will record the event for those who are unable to attend live. The recording will be available on our website and YouTube page for future accessibility.
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83675979839?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Author Signing with Dan Gagnon
2022-06-30 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join us on Thursday, June 30th for an author signing event with Dan Gagnon. From 1:00-5:00 Gagnon will be on-site signing copies of his new book “A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse.”

This biography of witch trial’s victim Rebecca Nurse vividly recreates seventeenth century Salem, and in the process challenges previous interpretations of Nurse’s life and the 1692 witch hunt.

Dan Gagnon serves on the board of directors of the Rebecca Nurse Homestead Museum in Danvers, Massachusetts and also works as a high school history teacher on the North Shore.

Weather permitting, the signing will take place in our front garden gate entrance. In the event of rain, the signing will be moved inside. Admission to the museum will not be required to purchase a signed copy.

Beyond Salem: The Witch Trials in Torsåker, Sweden
2022-06-05 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Though the Salem trials of 1692 are today one of the most famous in the Western world, they were far from the largest or deadliest. Nearly two decades before Salem, the Torsåker parish in Sweden was overtaken by a terrible witchcraft panic. In just one day in 1675, 71 people were beheaded and burned at the stake. By the time these tragic events came to an end, Sweden had experienced the largest witch-hunt in the country’s history.
Join us on Sunday June 5th for a virtual presentation given by Maria Nordlund, the foremost expert in the witch trials that took place in the village of Torsåker, Sweden. Maria is an archeologist and researcher with a long career at the Västernorrlands museum.
We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with the Witch Museum in Hola, Sweden. This will be a reciprocal presentation following a lecture given by our Education Department about the Salem witch trial.
This free virtual event will take place on Zoom at 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, June 5th. Registration is not required to attend the event.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86212109637?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 862 1210 9637
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Ancestor Stories: Authors Discuss their Family Connections to the Salem Witch Trials
2022-05-01 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Join us for this fascinating, hour-long virtual panel discussion with three notable Salem witch trials authors. During this discussion historian and archivist Richard Trask, descendant of Mary Esty, Rebecca Nurse, and John Procter, historical fiction author Kathleen Kent, descendant of Martha Carrier, and historian Mary Beth Norton, descendant of Mary Bradbury, will discuss how they discovered their ancestry and how it has informed their work.
The event will be held live on Zoom at 11:00 am EST on Sunday, May 1st. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (April 30th), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.

In Memory of Ann Dolliver
2022-03-27 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
In 1692, Ann Dolliver, the daughter of Salem Town’s elder minister, lived with her three children on the land where the Salem Witch Museum stands today. Despite the fact that Ann was the daughter of a respected New England reverend and sister of a Justice of the Peace, she was accused of witchcraft and arrested in June of 1692. Abandoned by her husband, left with three children, forced to move home with her father and step-mother in her 40s, she was described by her father as “melancholy” and “crazed in her understanding.” What little information is known about Ann Dolliver paints the picture of a sad and tragic life. Additionally, over the course of this research, our Department of Education has uncovered new information about another woman involved in the witchcraft trials, which will be discussed towards the end of this presentation.
This free, virtual presentation will take place on March 27th at 11:00 EST on Zoom. If you are unable to attend live, this event will also be recorded and shared on our YouTube page for future accessibility.

Zoom Link:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89343721142?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13126266799,,89343721142#,,,,*[REDACTED]# or +19292056099,,89343721142#,,,,*[REDACTED]#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 893 4372 1142
Passcode: [REDACTED]
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdqyFjCrN3

The Not So Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife
2021-10-21 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Binge-watch Vikings, Turn, or Frontier, and you’ll see people being disemboweled, tortured, and decapitated – but you won’t see anything about menstruation, chamber pots, birth control, breastfeeding, or poopy babies. It’s 2021! Even though Google cars have been invented and women won the vote 101 years ago, these “unsanitary” subjects still make people uncomfortable and are omitted from history.
Discover what life was really like for New England’s colonial women – because we’ve always been curious about: menstruation, sex, birth control, childbirth, sickness, and medicine.
For instance, in an era when underwear hadn’t been invented, what did women do when they had their periods? What were early American birth control methods? It was suggested that women try jumping backwards seven times after intercourse to expel sperm, drink water that blacksmiths used to cool metals, or insert a mixture of dried crocodile dung and honey into the vagina.
The Not-So-Good Life of The Colonial Goodwife not only makes audiences laugh and grimace – it also honors our foremothers. It’s not about quilting bees and spinning wheels – it’s a virtual presentation about the little-known issues faced by New England’s colonial women. Perhaps women need to be reminded how far we’ve come to see how far we still can go.
We are very excited to offer this event virtually! The event will be held live on Zoom at 6:30 EST. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (October 20), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.

Hidden History: Japanese Internment and Other Asian American Witch Hunts
2021-08-04 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Our museum’s mission is to be the voice of the innocent victims of the Salem witch trials of 1692 while also bringing awareness to how the lessons and patterns of historic witch hunts relate to society today. In our exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, we present a formula that can be used to describe the pattern of behavior responsible for sparking contemporary witch hunts.
Join us for this hour-long, virtual presentation where we will discuss how this formula can be applied to an important twentieth century example, the internment of Japanese Americans following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The fear and suspicion generated by this tragic event led to the forced removal of 100,000 Japanese Americans to internment camps in the country’s interior. Suddenly, all Japanese Americans were viewed as suspicious and were treated as enemies of the country. During this presentation we will discuss the environment of fear that led to this drastic action, the experience of internment, and the long overdue apology issued by the United States decades after the fact.
The event will be hosted as a free webinar on Zoom on August 4, at 6:30 EST. Please note, our Zoom room can host a fixed number of participants, so the presentation will be first come first admittance. If you are unable to attend live, this event will also be recorded and shared on our YouTube page for future accessibility.
To access this event on August 4, follow the Zoom instructions below:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/96491777453?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: SWM

The Life and Death of John Proctor
2021-05-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Join us for an afternoon virtual lecture given by Peabody Historical Society curator Kelly Daniell. In 1692, John Proctor was 60 years old, was a successful business man, had sired seventeen children by three different wives, and was outspoken about his feelings against the witchcraft hysteria. Now infamous as one of the primary characters in Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible,” this lecture provides an interesting window into the real life and untimely death of one of the most well-known figures of the Salem witch trials.

Kelly Daniell joined the Peabody Historical Society staff in early April of 2016. At the PHS, she maintains the extensive decorative arts and research collections, as well as eight historic buildings in the city of Peabody. She lectures regularly on three Salem witch trials families (who lived in modern day Peabody), including the Proctors, Coreys, and Feltons.

This event will be hosted live on Zoom at 2:00 pm EST. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (April 30th), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.

“Thrown into pits”: how were the bodies of the nineteen hanged Salem “witches” really treated?
2021-04-07 18:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
What happened to the individuals once they were executed in 1692? This is a mystery that has haunted historians for centuries. Nineteenth-century historian Charles Upham stated that the deceased were “undoubtedly all thrown into pits dug among the rocks” after the hangings. In addition, more recent popular accounts and all too many walking tours of Salem tend to enlarge on the more gruesome aspects of the 1692 witch trials tragedy with tales of bodies carelessly disposed of far from consecrated ground. But what really happened? Does contemporary evidence prove a different fate? Family lore strongly suggests that at least three of the dead were removed to home ground under cover of night for proper burial, but family lore isn’t always dependable. A closer examination of the court records may disprove the usual assumptions. Join us for this special hour-long virtual event with Salem historian Marilynne Roach to hear her latest fascinating discovery.
The event will be held live on Zoom on April 7, at 6:30 EST. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (April 6), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.
This event is SOLD OUT

Race and the Salem Witch Trials
2021-02-25 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Many are already aware one of the first people to be accused of witchcraft in 1692 was a woman of color, a slave named Tituba Indian. However, race deeply informed many other aspects of the 1692 trials and has dramatically contributed to the public memory of this event over time. Led by our Director and Assistant Director of Education, this presentation will examine the role of race in the context of the 1692 witch trials, as well as in the popular perception of the Salem trials from the seventeenth-century to the modern-day. This hour-long, virtual event, we will incorporate elements of our museum’s Self-Guided Sites Tour and will include time for questions and discussion.
This event that will be hosted as a free webinar, and will also be recorded and shared on our website and YouTube page for future accessibility. The event will be held live on Zoom on February 25, at 6:30 EST.
To access this event on February 25, follow the Zoom instructions below.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/96751834623?pwd=[REDACTED]
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Stranger than Fiction: Chilling and Thrilling Stories
2020-10-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event, Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (October 24), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT!

Ghost stories have been associated with Halloween celebrations for hundreds of years. If you have ever visited Salem, you will know this city is home to many, many spooky stories- some based in real historical events, and some not. Join Salem Witch Museum Assistant Director of Education, Jill Christiansen, and Director of Education, Rachel Christ, for this very special virtual event! We will be discussing our favorite spooky stories related to the Salem witch trials, and some of the eerie experiences we have while researching these events!

We are very excited to offer this event virtually! The event will be held live on Zoom at 7:00 EST. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (October 24), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.

Halloween Through History
2020-10-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event
Why do we tell ghost stories, dress in costume, and trick-or-treat on October 31st? Join Salem Witch Museum Director of Education, Rachel Christ, and Assistant Director of Education, Jill Christiansen, for a spooktacular night of Halloween history! During this hour-long virtual event we will talk about the origins of Halloween, tracing this fascinating holiday through the ages and into our modern-day celebration. Do you love Halloween? This is an event for you!

We are very excited to offer this event virtually! The event will be held live on Zoom at 7:00 EST. Once you have purchased a ticket, you will receive a confirmation receipt. The day before the event (October 10), you will receive an email with the Zoom link and password to access the virtual event room.

Family Reunion Mixer - Postponed
2020-05-02 19:00 - 2020-06-15 19:00 (America/New_York) | The Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Due to COVID-19 this event is POSTPONED..Stay tuned for more information.

7:00 pm at the Salem Witch Museum
Admission- $10
Cash bar
Can you trace your ancestry to Essex Country, 1692? Stop by our after-dinner mixer for conversation, drinks and desert! Historian Marilynne Roach will be present to answer questions and chat about the Salem witch trials. All are welcome!
Purchase tickets in advance below.

The Life and Death of John Proctor, 1692 -POSTPONED
2020-05-02 14:00 (America/New_York) | The Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
POSTPONED
2:00 pm at the Hawthorne Hotel Library
Admission -$10

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR A NEW DATE. IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED A TICKET IT WILL BE REFUNDED.
THANK YOU.
Join us for a fascinating lecture given by Peabody Historical Society curator Kelly Daniell. In 1692, John Proctor was 60 years old, was a successful business man, had sired seventeen children by three different wives, and was outspoken about his feelings against the witchcraft hysteria. Now infamous as one of the primary characters in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, this lecture provides an interesting window into the real life and untimely death of one of the most well-known figures of the Salem witch trials.
Kelly Daniell joined the Peabody Historical Society staff in early April of 2016. At the PHS, she maintains the extensive decorative arts and research collections, as well as eight historic buildings in the city of Peabody. She lectures regularly on three Salem witch trials families (who lived in modern day Peabody), including the Proctors, Coreys, and Feltons.
Tickets can be bought in advance below.

An Evening with Gregory Maguire
2019-10-23 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | The Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
We are thrilled to announce a very special evening with bestselling author Gregory Maguire! Author of hit novels such as Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Son of a Witch, and Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister, this exciting event will consist of a talk regarding the inspiration for the novel Wicked, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The 1995 publication of Wicked sparked a new wave in the perception of the infamous “wicked” witch. Written from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West, this novel became a sensation. In 2003 the best selling novel was adapted into a hit Broadway play, and by 2018 it became the sixth-longest running show in Broadway history. Join us for a fabulous wrap up to our celebration of the eightieth anniversary of the film The Wizard of Oz, with a man personally responsible for bringing this story back to audiences of all ages, this time with a very new take on an old figure.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the event will conclude at 9:00 pm. This is a free event, but due to limited seating we do require preregistration.

Salem Witch Museum Presents: An Evening Lecture and Screening of the Wizard of Oz
2019-10-02 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Calling all Wizard of Oz fans! Join us for an evening lecture about the fascinating story behind the creation of The Wizard of Oz, immediately followed by a screening of the film.
Location: The Salem Witch Museum
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Tickets available at the door.
Admission: $10 per person*
Time:
Lecture begins at 7:00
Movie screening at 7:45
*Free admission for anyone who attends dressed in Wizard of Oz costume!

In the Shadow of Salem
2019-06-27 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a night with author and historian Richard Hite, as he discusses his new book “In the Shadow of Salem.” This fascinating work focuses on the witch hunts that broke out in Andover in 1692, where more people were accused of witchcraft than in any other area, including Salem. Join us for an hour talk given by the author, followed by questions and a book signing. This event is free and we will have books available for purchase on site.

The Corpse in the Cellar: or, the Posthumous Adventures of Sheriff George Corwin, a Tale of the Salem Witch Trials
2018-10-10 18:30 UTC | The Salem Witch Museum, 19 1/2 Washington Square North, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Did Philip English steal the sheriff’s corpse? – or didn’t he? Join author, Marilynne K. Roach to examine the clues from history, geography, and law. Then you decide if the rumors are fact, fiction, or folk-lore.
Tickets: $10.00 online or $15.00 at the door.
Note: Online tickets stop at 12pm on Oct. 10. After 12pm on Oct. 10, tickets can be purchased on site only.
Salem Witch Museum – 19 1/2 Washington Square North – Salem MA, 01970
978.744-1692
