Salem Witch Museum - Salem - TravBuddy

So since I went to Salem, Mass in March not much was open to see and do. Across from the hotel was the Salem Witch museum and it was built in an old church. There are two parts to the museum. One of them is a show dictiating what happened with Ann Putnam and her friends and the whole witch trials. The second part is the history if witches and the changing interpretations over time.

Now since I have a short attention span I did not last at this museum too long. In the part about the witch trial you go into where the santuary of the church would be and sit while you watch mock rooms light up going around the santuary. Inside of these mini rooms are mock set ups of the narration that are wax figures. so nothing really moves or grabs your attention. It was informative but my mind wandered.

In the second room the tour guide goes through the the history of the witch and our perceptions over time. In this room there is a time line on the wall dating back to prehistoric times to todays wican life. In the mock set up portion you will see images ranging from the witch in Hansel and Gretel to the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz to Joan of Arc and John and Elizabeth Proctor of the Salem trials.

My favorite part of the museum was talking to the staff inside. There were 2 women and 2 men who were working who ranged in ages between 19 and 55ish. They all had so much information and were happy to answer them. If they didn't have the answer they would find it for you.

If I could do it again I would just talk to the staff and not see the exhibit.

If you've ever read The Crucible and wanted to find out how the witch mania started, or was just curious as to how a group of self-proclaimed puritanical people could kill over 19 innocent people for no good reason at all, then a day's trip to Salem is worth your time.  There are many museums related to the witch hysteria of 1692 as well as ghost tours, haunted houses, and such, but the Salem Witch Museum seemed the most credible.  It's essentially a 45-minute show, except there are no actors, only figures erected around the wall in different scenes of witch trials.  A booming voice very vividly and engagingly relates the story of the trials while a light illuminates each accompanying scene in the room. 

Admittedly, the whole thing is a tad bit cheesy, but I went to learn the details of the hangings and was very pleased with the information given.  Once the show is over, a guide takes you on a little tour of the museum.  The exhibits range from clothing worn by modern-day witches practicing Wiccan in Salem to Irish/Welsh medicine-women replicas who are thought to be the originators of witchcraft.  There are also photographs of the victims' houses, which date back to the 17th century, along with their addresses so you can go visit them if so inclined. 

The gift shop is terrific, and I picked up quite a few Salem and witchcraft paraphernalia.  Overall, it is a really fascinating destination for history buffs, and if you can ignore the cheesiness, you'll have a good time.