Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Island, and Native American peoples. Portraits of area residents include Charles
Osgood's omnipresent rendering of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Special exhibitions during the period covered by this topic include
Stage Idols:
Japanese Kabuki Theater
(through Jan 25, 2009) and
To the Ends of the Earth:
Painting the Polar Landscape
(Nov 8, 2008-Mar 1, 2009).
To explore the museum, take a guided or self-guided gallery tour. The cafe keeps
the same hours as the museum, and the restaurant serves lunch Wednesday through
Sunday and afternoon tea on weekends.
East India Sq.
&
866/745-1876
or 978/745-9500. www.pem.org. Admission $15 adults, $13 seniors, $11 students,
free for children under 17. Yin Yu Tang admission $4 with museum admission. Surcharges may apply for special exhi-
bitions. Daily 10am-5pm. Take Hawthorne Blvd. to Essex St., following signs for visitor center. Enter on Essex St. or
New Liberty St.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
An entertaining introduction to
Salem's seagoing history, this complex includes an exciting attraction: a real live ship.
The
Friendship
is a full-size replica of a 1797 East Indiaman merchant vessel, a
three-masted 171-footer that disappeared during the War of 1812. The tall ship is a
faithful replica with some concessions to the modern era, such as diesel engines. The
guided ranger tour
includes a tour of the ship.
With the decline of merchant shipping in the early 19th century, Salem's wharves
fell into disrepair. In 1938, the National Park Service took over a small piece of the
waterfront,
Derby Wharf.
It's now a finger of parkland extending into the harbor,
part of the 9 acres that make up the historic site. On adjacent
Central Wharf
is a
warehouse, built around 1800, that houses the orientation center. Tours, which vary
seasonally, explore Salem's maritime history. Yours might include the
Derby House
(1762), a wedding gift to shipping magnate Elias Hasket Derby from his father, and
the
Custom House
(1819). Legend—myth, really—has it that Nathaniel Hawthorne
was working here when he found an embroidered scarlet “A.” If you prefer to explore
on your own, you can see a free film and wander around
Derby Wharf,
the
West
India Goods Store,
the
Bonded Warehouse,
the
Scale House,
and Central Wharf.
Check ahead for lectures and other special events that focus on topics related to
Salem's seagoing legacy.
193 Derby St.
&
978/740-1660.
www.nps.gov/sama. Free admission. Guided tours $5 adults, $3 seniors and chil-
dren 6-16. Daily 9am-5pm. Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25. Take Derby St. east; just past Pickering Wharf,
Derby Wharf is on the right.
Salem Witch Museum
This is one of the most memorable attractions in
eastern Massachusetts—it's both interesting and scary. The main draw of the museum
(a former church) is a three-dimensional audiovisual presentation with life-size figures.
The show takes place in a huge room lined with displays that are lighted in sequence.
The 30-minute narration tells the tale of the witchcraft trials and the accompanying
hysteria. The well-researched presentation recounts the story accurately, if somewhat
Kids
Kids
A Face in the Crowd
On the traffic island across from the entrance to the
Salem Witch Museum
is a
statue that's easily mistaken for a witch. It's really
Roger Conant,
who founded
Salem in 1626.
Fun Fact
