Salem, a historic town just a quick day trip from Boston, was founded by European fishermen in 1626, and is the birthplace of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne. It’s also the place where the roots of the US National Guard were planted. It’s home to the Peabody Essex Museum, exhibiting one of the best collections of Asian art in the country.
But nothing can eclipse what happened here in 1692 when hundreds of residents were accused of witchcraft and 19 people were executed by hanging. The city’s connection to witches was cemented in 2005 when they erected a statue of actress Elizabeth Montgomery who famously played a charming witch on the 1960s TV show “Bewitched.”
Because of the historical connection to witchcraft, this city of 45,000 people has also had a deep association with hauntings and ghosts. Some say there is an energy here, one that breeds paranormal activity. If you ask a local they might tell you that Salem is crawling with ghosts and ghouls. Here’s everything you need to know about finding the best haunted places in Salem.
Rockafellas Restaurant
They say the “Blue Lady” haunts this place. Home to the very first church in Salem, the space that now houses Rockafellas Restaurant. The lady in question, though, is named Sarah. As the story goes, an older sea captain was in love with her but her heart was set on a younger sailor.
When the sea captain learned Sarah’s intentions were with a younger man, he murdered her and, with the help of a minister from the church, stashed her body in the tunnels that (still) run under the space. The minister, living with the guilt of sin by aiding a murderer, took his own life.
There have been ample sightings of Sarah and her blue dress since then. Even the ghost of the minister. Today you can graze on some marinated steak tips or baked mac ‘n’ cheese while sipping on the signature house cocktail, the rum-laced Lady in Blue, and keep your eyes peeled for Sarah.
Turner’s Seafood
Salem could be the capital of haunted restaurants thanks to its grizzly past. Turner’s has the unfortunate location where one Bridget Bishop owned a tavern. It sat next to an apple orchard. Ms. Bishop happens to be the first person who was executed during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
If a sudden strong scent of apples pervades your olfactory glands, eclipsing the smell of the Nantucket scallops or stuffed clams on the plate in front of you, just know that it’s apparently a sign that Bridget Bishop might be near. The smell of apples is a legendary sign of paranormal activity at Turner’s Seafood.
Old Burying Point Cemetery
Could there be a more on-point name for a cemetery? They’ve been burying the dead here since 1637, making it the second oldest cemetery in the United States. It would be an understatement to say this Salem cemetery is oozing with paranormal activity.
Visitors and locals alike gravitate to Old Burying Point Cemetery to pay homage to the victims of the witch trials at the memorial that is placed here. Two infamous judges from the Salem Witch Trials are buried here, including John Hathorne, distant relative to writer Nathan Hawthorne. Visitors have routinely mentioned hearing strange voices out of nowhere and/or seeing the face of ghosts peering out of windows.
The Merchant Hotel
George Corwin, sheriff of Salem at the time of the witch trials, owned a hotel here in the 17th century. Corwin was not a good man. He was known for torturing criminals in the makeshift prison basement of the Merchant Hotel, using the most draconian methods to inflict pain. It was also here where he interrogated people for being accused of witchcraft.
Corwin was loathed so much that when he finally died, his wife buried his body in the basement of the hotel so that his grave would not be vandalized.
Today the building is a charming boutique hotel but of course you can’t have a history like this and be devoid of paranormal activity, right? Right. There is said to be a frequent ghostly spirit who haunts the place, one of Corwin’s victims—a woman with wild black hair. If you’re staying in one of the guest rooms, keep an eye out for her.
Old Salem Jail
From 1813 to 1991, the Old Salem Jail (Bridge St, 161) was home to the city’s criminals…And until the day it finally shuttered, the place had no running water or electricity.
Conditions, you could say, were beyond harsh. Even the infamous Boston Strangler spent time here before his execution. And Harry Houdini staged an escape from the jail.
But there were at least 50 executions that took place right here in the building. Today the structure consists of apartments and residents have frequently spoken of odd noises and unexplained goings-on that occur in the middle of the night.
Ropes Mansion
A woman named Abigail lived in this historic 300-year-old mansion until one day when her dress caught on fire and she tragically succumbed. Her ghost is said to still haunt Ropes Mansion.
Visitors have sometimes claimed they felt pushed and turned around to see no one there. Others have said they’ve felt the temperature drop in certain rooms. If the white, three-floor house looks familiar that’s because it had a major role in the 1993 Disney film, “Hocus Pocus.”
Hawthorne Hotel
Named after writer Nathaniel Hawthorne, the over-200-year-old building that houses the hotel was once home to the Salem Marine Society. Since 1925, it has been a hotel. It’s also said to be one of the most haunted spots in the city.
Guests have long claimed to witness lights randomly flickering on and off, doors slamming when there is not a soul in sight, and guest room doors opening in the middle of the night. If you want to go to the haunting epicenter of the Hawthorne Hotel, check into rooms 326 or 612. But you might not get a very good night’s sleep.
Want to tap into the paranormal side of Salem—and really, who doesn’t?—a witch-themed tour, guided by an expert local who has seen it all, is a really good bet you’re going to leave Salem looking like you’ve seen a ghost.