The Common and the Wharf
Salem Witch Museum
When looking for things to do in Salem, the Salem Witch Museum is often listed right at the top. It was opened in 1972 in a renovated historic church building, and attempts to reconstruct the events of 1692 for visitors. Unfortunately, the Salem Witch Museum does not allow picture-taking inside. I would not, however, recommend this museum.
A visit consists of sitting in a large room surrounded by dioramas depicting key scenes in the Salem Witch Trials, from the moment the “afflicted” began to show symptoms, to the trials themselves, and the end result of them. These dioramas are in quite poor shape, and the way the room is set up means that, depending on where you end up sitting, you may or may not miss whole parts of the presentation. With its steep entry price (a ticket will set you back $17.50), I would say the experience wasn’t worth it.
I would alternatively recommend the Witch Dungeon Museum, which is a bit cheaper ($13). The presentation includes live actors, which helps to bring the story to life, and the people who work here know quite a bit about the events of 1692 and were willing to answer questions and have discussions with visitors.
Salem Common
Much like the Boston Common, the Salem Common is a large green expanse which today serves as a public park. The area upon which it sits was once partly a swamp, and livestock was allowed to roam freely on it until 1802, when the city attempted to beautify the park.
Salem Custom House
This is the thirteenth Customs House in Salem, with the first having been built in 1649. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter, was overseer of the city’s port and later worked in the US Custom House across the street from it — this setting was later included in his novel.
Friendship of Salem
This is a 2000 replica of Friendship, a cargo ship built locally in 1797 for international trade. It made 15 voyages around the world, going to India, China, South America, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and Russia, and trading dried cod fish and timber for pepper, spices, sugar, coffee, silk, and tea. On her third voyage, she received a letter of marque, which meant she could be used to seize enemy ships as prizes of war. During this time, it carried 30 men and 14 guns to fend off the French.
Derby Wharf Light Station
Built in 1871, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, this lighthouse originally used an oil lamp shining through a Fresnel lens (one out of only 17 in the United States). Today, its red light, visible for 4 nautical miles (7.4km/4.6 mi), is solar powered.
Gold Colored Fox 