Salem Witch Museum

I was very disappointed in the Salem Witch Museum. It’s like 7 bucks a person for basically nothing. All that happens is they put you in a dark room with manikins in scenes on the walls. The story about the Salem Witch trials are told and that’s it. It took about 10 minutes and that was the whole show. I thought it was a museum with actual artifacts and such. Boy was I wrong! Definitely not worth visiting!

Go to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s house. (7 Gables). It’s fascinating. The rest is enjoyable, but a little too commercial for my tastes. I did have fun, but learned more at Hawthorne’s house than I did anywhere else.

i love Salem sooo much =]

I find it a bit overpriced from what you get, but if you arent completely schooled on what happend with the witch trials ect.. You will learn a bit in a fun visual way, as the salem witch museum isnt actually a museum but its this huge room where a story is told and parts of the large room light up and you watch as the story is told. Each part of the story has a differnet display with almost lifelike models of the victoms and accused, and what was going on.
I enjoyed it. I will be going there again this October.
They also have headphones that will translate into spanish for those who do not use english as your 1st language. Just ask for them upon entering.

We stopped here on our way home from a camping trip and it was completely worth it. Interesting (and appalling) history along with real information makes it a must see!

I visited Salem many years ago with a few male friends. As we walked down the streets I found myself looking at women and wondering if they were witches. I think that the town uses it’s history to attract tourists so perhaps I was just going along with the vibe set by the locals. It was kind of eerie though.

This is overpriced and disappointing. Meanwhile, there are other sights in Salem (the graveyard, Peabody Essex, House of 7 Gables, etc.) that offer more food for thought and sights to see.

If you really want to get some serious insights into the Witch trials, look at one of the gift shops and spend the money on a book about the trials, maybe one of the Frances Hills books like the Salem Witch Trial reader. Many historians believe that economic and social pressures (a recent Indian war, a land grab for farms held out of reach of Salem’s leaders) had a lot to do with the trials.

very small and crowded. not actually a museum… but whatever. actually, i don’t think there was anything legitimate there. but if you’re into that kinda stuff, i guess you should go. they do a little story telling thing beforehand.

I wouldn’t really call it a museum. It’s a series of sets with dressed-up mannequins in a dark room which doesn’t include much in the way of real artifacts. There are no plaques which you could peruse at your own pace – there is only a guide with a ~10 minute narrative, and then you have to get out. The guide’s narrative is interesting but doesn’t provide very deep detail. Interesting, but not worth the admission fee.

I’d rather go to Salem in general rather than specifically to the museum. However, if I make it to Salem, I’ll probably check this out as well. Just didn’t want it taking up space on my list;)