Salem Witch Museum

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 :
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Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
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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
