When in Salem, you have to do something bewitching so I came to this museum to learn about the Salem Witch Trials. It's housed in a historic church and is quite pretty outside. We got tickets through the GoCity card, and had to make our reservations for a time slot slot the day before. We arrived and checked in, got our sticker, and then waited at a second area to enter the museum when it was our turn. First part of the "tour" was a presentation of the history of the trials with creepy looking mannequins on display. I recommend you sit on the stools in the center of the room for best viewing as you have to rotate around left on your seat to see each display as they are presented. It's actually quite informative but the presentation of it was kind of cheesy to be honest. After that is over, you are taken to the back end of the museum where there are exhibits about how witches are presented in movies (ie the witches of Oz), and defining witch hunting then and now. There's a gift shop for all things witchy at the end. read more

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​If you've seen photos of Salem, you've seen this building. The massive, gothic, red-brick church exterior is easily the most iconic photo op in the city. Inside, however, the vibe is a bit of a time capsule. It feels like a mix between a theater and a history classroom--very "vintage 1970s" but in a way that feels like a Salem rite of passage. ​ ​The museum is divided into two parts: ​The Main Show: You sit in a large, darkened room while life-sized dioramas light up around the perimeter to a narrated soundtrack. It tells the story of the 1692 trials with a lot of drama. It's definitely "campy" and a bit dated, but it's a solid, digestible overview of the history. ​The Guided Exhibit: After the show, a staff member leads you through a second area that explains the evolving image of "the witch" through time. This part felt much more modern and actually touched on some interesting social themes like scapegoating. ​Duration: Plan for about 1 hour total. ​Booking: This is the most important tip--book your tickets online in advance! Especially in the shoulder seasons or October, they sell out hours (or days) ahead. Don't expect to just walk up to the door and get in. ​Price: At around $19, it's a bit pricier than the smaller museums, but it's the "big one" that most people feel they have to check off their list. read more

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I thought this was great. We arrived just in time for the 12pm start so had a few minutes to use the restroom. Upon starting you're in a large room which has various mini displays that are highlighted as the story goes along. Sadly people were talking during the presentation so it kinda ruined part of the vibe. The history was easy to digest and informative. The second pet was a lady speaking about the various exhibits in the room. The timeline was interesting to see when different events occurred in relation to others. Took about 40 min for the entire thing and found a cool monopoly type game in the gift shop! read more

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5 of us checked out the Salem witch museum and had a good time. Very entertaining and informative. Had no idea this witch stuff was really a real part of history and in this cool small little town. Worth the tour read more

Salem Witch Museum - 5 friends at the museum - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Since we were very interested in learning about the history of Witches in Salem, we didn't pass up the opportunity to visit the Salem Witch Museum. After paying for our tickets, we had to wait until our time slot before we were allowed inside. There were two parts to this tour. The first was us sitting in a dark room and watched a play and reenactment of the Witch trial. The second part was a tour around the museum which was led by a tour guide. Even though the information was interesting and fascinating, we feel rushed. Didn't feel like we had enough time to take in all that was presented. This is not really a museum where we can take our time to read and enjoy the details. This was more of a tour than a self-guided museum. Wish the format was different where we can really enjoy the experience. Because this was based upon time slots, we have to be out so the next group can go in. After the tour is over, you are headed out to their gifts shop. Well, at least here, you can take your time to find any souvenirs you like. Overall, it was an ok experience. Wish it was better. read more

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The Salem Witch Trial Museum was an overall enjoyable stop for us. The downtown Salem area is cute and very walkable - do bring quarters for parking! The museum is easy to find following the signs and tickets were $19/person. A little expensive for the amount of time we spent there. We waited with a group before being let into the presentation area. The displays were interesting and the story telling was very thorough. It didn't feel like there were quite enough seats in the middle area for everyone so we sat on the edge and missed out a bit on seeing all of the different "stations." If you want to have a good view get in there quickly! The rest of the museum was interesting but not as big as I thought it would be. I enjoyed the relation to pop culture and the timeline that compared witch history with general world history - it put a lot into perspective. The guide did a nice job explaining things but keeping it brief enough so we also had some time to explore independently. I do agree with other reviewers that the whole process felt a little rushed, and it didn't feel like a museum the way you would expect. Overall, if I could rate it 3.5 stars I would. 3 feels like too few. The gift shop had almost everything you could think of including many interesting books. I ended up choosing one about Tituba and I am looking forward to reading it! read more

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We were so excited to be close to Salem while traveling for work into Boston. We made a day to go to Salem and check out the infamous Salem Witch Museum. We had purchased tickets online the night prior to attend the museum, we checked in and received a colored sticker for our tour time. We had some time to check out the gift shop prior to our tour start time. We headed over to the far side of the museum to wait for our tour to begin. With how large the building is we thought there would be more to offer within the museum - though the tour was extremely informative and I learned quite a bit I didn't know, it was only 2 rooms of exhibits during the tour. You start the tour by entering a large, dark room with round stools in the middle, take their advice and get a seat in the center of the room or you cant see all of the displays. When the tour starts, mini displays light up and the audio recordings tell the story - and it goes around the room from the left corner in a counter clockwise as the story progresses. Once this is completed, you are escorted through the gift shop into the 2nd exhibit room where the tour guide goes over how Witches transitioned from to the dramatized versions in movies with green skin to the modern day wiccans. You are given some time after they speak to look through all the displays in this area before you end back in the gift shop. Overall I loved the history, but was surprised there wasn't more in the museum. read more

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We went back and forth about whether or not we wanted to check out the Salem Witch Museum, but finally decided that we should on our last day of our trip. We made a reservation and got tickets online for their last tour of the day at 6:15pm. Tickets are $19 for adults and I believe you can only get them on the same day you are attending. We got in line a little bit before 6:15pm and then they give you a sticker before going inside where you wait for your group to enter the museum. They have you sit in a circle and then there is also overfill along the outside of the room as well. I really enjoyed the presentation room and the glowing red circle that honors those who passed due to witchcraft accusations. I also really enjoyed the presentation portion with the wax figures. As for the tour part afterwards, I thought it could have been better. Our tour guide rushed through a lot of it and I would have liked to walk through that portion at our own pace to really be able to view and experience everything. They do have a gift shop at the end of the tour with museum items and other Salem things. I bought some earrings and a magnet. Overall, I love the outside of the building - the architecture is so beautiful and I enjoyed the presentation, but I'm not sure if it is worth $19. Would I do it again? Probably not, but I don't think it is a bad idea to experience it at least once especially if you like the history of Salem! read more

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We visited with a group of 4 adults and 4 kids (ages ranged from 10 to 7). We had a nice time and it was good for what it was but it is probably the type of thing you do once and you're good! My husband won tickets at an auction, which is what brought us in. There is a narration for the majority of your visit where you sit in a room and different exhibits light up depending on the story that they are telling. I appreciated learning and hearing about the history of the witch trials and why/how they came to be. Our kids were a little scared at times but it wasn't too bad. The second part of the admission includes a tour of a room where a guide explains more of the timeline and reasons for the witch trials. I appreciated her message, which was, these women were wrongfully accused and let's not have history repeat itself! Relevant in today's times. The tour ended in a gift shop. All in, we were probably there for 45 minutes in total. read more

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This tour was pretty cool and very well organized. I also felt the price point unlike a lot of tourist attractions, was very fair. Children under six are free and adults are around $19. We arrived at the time listed and we were told there's actually a 10 minute window in between for them to get set up, which was not a problem. It gets a little confusing about which door to go in and out of, but thankfully, there was a lot of staff on hand, all of whom were very helpful. The first part is a pre-recorded assimilation of characters from The Crucible, and their experiences. It was interesting to find out how much of the play Arthur Miller fabricated from their real stories. For the second part, the group splits in half, one group goes to the gift shop and the other goes on the last leg of the tour, and then they switch. I thought that was good because it eliminated having a crowd, or long lines at the gift shop. I also felt the gift shop was again, reasonably priced. This would be a great attraction for school groups. read more

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Because it's October, you have to wait until 10PM the previous night to get tickets online. I did have to wait a couple minutes to finally purchase tickets which was a little nerve wracking. First, you're place in a huge room to listen to a recording go into detail about the witch trials. There are wax-like displays around the room that are lit up. The only con with this is that if you're sitting on the sides, you miss a large portion of the wall unless you take the time to get out of your seat. Afterwards, you go to another room where a guide educates you. There isn't much crowd control. I'm thankful my group was respectful. I wish the guide had a mic because it was hard to follow. I really liked the gift shop. I found there to be a lot of interesting books. read more

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While in Salem, MA we visited the Salem Witch Museum. It cost us $52 to go on the Guided tour. First you watch a play with wax figures depicting the story of how it started! Then phase 2 they take you to a section with artifacts that after she does her presentation you are allowed to view and take photos. There is also the original beam from some of the hangings located there. The gift shop was large with a lot of items to choose from! I got a magnet! Tony Vanoy Noël Teel Calliope & I enjoyed! read more

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It was my first time in Salem and I feel like it is a must to visit the Salem Witch Museum. Museum entrance includes a two part experience. The first experience tells the Salem Witch trial story in a small auditorium. The second half shows the history of witches in the world. It was worth the money, very informative, and did not take a lot of time. read more

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This is not a "museum" in a true sense, something they do t tell you until after you purchase your tkts. That being said it's a story time effect with lifelike dioramas that light up as the story is being told of the witches and witch trials. It's interesting but not worth the tkt price. read more

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Since my childhood, it has been a tradition for me to keep coming back to the Salem Witch Museum for an nostalgic time. In the past few years, I have tried giving this museum chance after chance to try to improve and sadly they just do not give a crap. Management over staff is an absolute joke at this place. They have a strict no cell phone policy inside and they also tell you to not film. Talk on your phone or talk during the presentation. Yet every time that I have come here as I said in the past few years, everybody is on their phones, talking filming and breaking the rules. A staff member is usually always in the presentation area and they do absolutely nothing. I even saw a kid playing sonic the hedgehog on his phone while being in here. Why bother having these rules if when people break them you're not even going to enforce them? There are some of us that actually like to hear the presentation and paid money for the experience. The figures are of course incredibly old and have needed an update for quite some time. The narration itself is why I love this attraction so much. Granted it is old, but it still tells a very good compelling story of what happened during those unfortunate times of the Salem Witch trials. Not to mention this is an original recording from back in I believe the late 60s or early 70s, which is not supposed to be recorded on people's phones for copyright reasons. These are the same rules that they tell you at the Salem Witch Dungeon Museum, but people seem to disregard them here. People were talking the entire time. I was trying to listen and watch the presentation above me and a staff member was inside the theater and did absolutely nothing. I'm absolutely sick of this. Don't waste your time or money. It's not worth it. I can at least say with the Witch Dungeon Museum they are very strict over there and don't put up with any nonsense so you will get what you paid for. For the amount of money that people pay to see this attraction, we should be getting what we paid for. I hope management sees this and reprimands their staff to really highly enforce these rules and if they have to remove people who are breaking these rules during the show so be it. In addition to comment on the comment, you left me I will not remove this review. As I mentioned your staff does not enforce rules strictly enough, and I have even come to them to talk to them about this in the recent years. I have visited the museum and they do absolutely nothing. At one point a couple years ago when people were talking and being disruptive, we tried to go up to the desk when the presentation was over and explained we were not happy about it and they yelled at us saying why did we not get up during the middle of the presentation to go tell them. They even admitted that they would not have come into the room and reprimanded the people. Yes, I actually do know what goes into keeping a historical building afloat don't make assumptions. We have donated to many historical buildings and organizations to keep them going so that they can be well preserved and appreciated by all. Your museum is voted one of the worst tourist traps in the world. I was refrain from saying this in my review because I figured with some constructive criticism, you guys would actually take it and do something to improve instead of making excuses for your staff. We deeply love Salem and we appreciate the history of Salem. I think you need to have a conversation with your staff members because they are clearly not all on the same page of what you're telling me here. If you're telling me that phones are allowed during the presentation to take pictures that is absolute news to me because that wasn't allowed for several years nor was it allowed when I went there a few days ago. Bottom line is you need people in there to make sure others are not being disruptive. Why is it that the other museums have a control on this and are no nonsense but this continuously happens? Take the criticism and channel it into improving the business and your staff. Then perhaps at some point we will come back and revisit until then I wish you the best. read more

Informative and fun! The first part has reenactments of how the Witch Trials started and the second part is a brief little history tour. Rose was our history guide for the second part and did great. Would absolutely return! read more

We came into Salem on a whim for a day trip, and knew we wanted to check out one museum. This one seemed to be highly rated on Reddit, so we decided to book it. We were able to get a spot for the afternoon same day which was perfect. You start in a large room and they basically tell the story of the witch trials with models and mannequins. It's really cool to hear about it and learn. Then you get pushed into a museum area where the tour guide talks a little more, and then one last room where same thing. There's a lot of really cool information, but the price feels super steep for what you get from it - crowded rooms as a tour that give basic information. I think I would rather a museum be larger and let me self guide. I'm not mad about going, it was informative and we definitely wanted to do something like this in Salem, but it did leave a lot to be desired in my opinion. read more

Calling this a museum is audacious. We regret we didn't read reviews before paying over $60 for DISCOUNTED tickets to this ridiculous venue. We sat for a dumbed down truncated voiced over introduction featuring old and poorly made mannequins. Then you walk through half a hallway with absurd reproductions of movie posters and Wikipedia entries posted on the wall. In yet another affront to our intelligence, they insist on walking you through that half hallway while teaching you about witchcraft in past and present culture. Even $2 would be too many dollars for this. Save your money. read more

A complete tourist trap that is extremely outdated. I wouldn't say it was a museum, it was more of a "show" with standstill wax figures that tells you a little about the history of the witch trials. I would suggest sitting in the middle to get the best view. Honestly, the Witch Dungeon gave the same information and it was much cooler to see. As it was off season, it was very easy to get in to and we purchased tickets right outside. The place is made out of an old church which is pretty cool. The little tour after the show was the coolest part, it had some cool artifacts and notable autographs. Definitely a once and never again museum. read more

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Had a blast stopping in with friends from the west coast. I come to Salem 5+ times a year and yet haven't been to the museum since the mid 90's. Nice to see some updates, but also nice to see much of it exactly as it was 30 years ago. Definitely a fun place to visit when you're in town. read more

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Not worth the price or wait at all. After going through and watching the lights go onto the mannequins where half of them you can't even see because of how the sitting is there. I can say it was a waste of time read more

As a historian, I was super excited to visit this museum as it was "Supposed" to tell the real story of the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Your insistence on you being on time was absolutely nonsensical. You get lumped in with the group either before your time or after your time, you have this idea that it's gonna be a long exhibit, no, it is literally 2 rooms, in which the main is like a wax museum, with vignettes, wirh you turning in a circle to listen the narrations from at least 30 years ago. Then you either hang in the gift shop, filled with imported trinkets seen on TikTok shop, while waiting to go into a miniature, circular walk through at any museum, where the guide gives the most random info possible, i swear there is a wicked witch of the west figure, talking about technicolor in the Wizard of Oz. For such a majestic building, the actual exhibition space is small. The overall information is even less than what you learned in grade/middle school. The amount of missing info was astounding. I was very disappointed. Oh, for $19, they need to give people some type of souvenir in the price. read more

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It is definitely campy and needs some upgrades. Have you ever watched Gilmore girls? Well this diorama based museum is only missing a cannon ball through the floor. This is literally 2 rooms, you sit in one for about 25 minutes watching the dioramas be lit up as they discuss who is who. Then into the next room where there are 3 more dioramas with a recorded explanation of what it is. I arrived 10 minutes early and had to wait an extra 15 minutes for the "tour" to begin. As we were the last tour for the day we were quickly ushered out being told the museum is now closed. Wasn't sure if the gift shop was still open so decided to skip it. I will at more shops tomorrow for some good take home gifts. read more

Salem Witch Museum - Diorama. - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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How could I not visit a witch museum when visiting Salem, Massachusetts? I didn't know what to expect. However, there were long lines and reservations needed to be made once inside. I was quickly disappointed the decoration and the props are very mediocre. I've seen more effort put in Halloween houses. The employees were very sweet and very knowledgeable about the history of Salem. However, it seems you could've easily watched in YouTube or read off a book. I wasn't impressed to save your money. read more

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Visiting the Salem Witch Museum again after all these years felt like stepping back into a memory--but with a modern twist. I first came here on a sixth-grade field trip, wide-eyed and full of questions. Coming back as an adult, I found the experience just as cool, but now with an updated, more immersive feel. The museum still holds that eerie, theatrical magic that makes Salem so special, but it's clearly been refreshed to offer more depth and context. The exhibits are thoughtful, the storytelling remains powerful, and the history hits even harder now that I can take it in from a grown-up lens. It's part nostalgia, part education, and still completely worth the visit--whether it's your first time or you're returning with a little more life experience in your pocket. read more

Salem Witch Museum - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This was a cool thing to do, touristy but really cool. Plus our 6 year old son enjoyed it! Stopped in here before dinner while on vacation.

Not worth the money or time. Started with trying to buy tickets at midnight. Took over 1/2 hr to get them. The museum itself is a show of basically wax figures and a recording that consisted of voiceover and characters from the Crucible. After the show, we had to wait in a very crowded gift shop for 10 minutes while the other half of the group took a look at the rest of the museum. The rest of the museum consisted of a Q artifacts from the Time and some stuff on the walls. It was very boring and took us about 30 seconds to go through. Not well organized at all and the workers did a poor job of public speaking. read more

Salem Witch Museum - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This is not a museum. I don't even know what to call this. You go in and sit in this room while some narration comes on explaining what happened a during a witch trial. While some light shines on some exhibitions. It's like 15 min. I thought it was just a thing you sit through before going to the actual museum where you could see exhibits... no that was it. You do that and the door opens right to the gift shop. read more

Not what I expected. Too much narrative. Expected exhibits and artifacts as a museum. Felt like the price was not worth the presentation in my opinion. read more

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In my opinion, the best part of the "museum" is the lobby where they actually give you info about possible death methods and the hysteria behind the witch hunts. I came to this museum hoping to learn about Salem's witch hunt history and was left severely disappointed. The process to get tickets begins the night before your visit at approximately 10 PM. The website claims that these tickets go fast and appointment times cannot be changed. However, when I arrived, the museum staff was able to change my ticket since I was 10 minutes late. Guests will wait in the lobby before the doors open to a diorama room, which is dark and has a red circular center, making the experience creepy for the "witchy" effect. The atmosphere does make it seem slightly spooky so I was bracing myself for anything to happen, although in hindsight, there was nothing to be afraid of. Like many Yelpers before me have said, I should've looked at Yelp reviews before coming. The diorama consisted of an audio recording of a 90s style narrator with a British accent. Each exhibit would light up when the narrator was talking about it, but these dolls in the exhibits were creepy since they were almost a papier-mâché style and did not move it amounted to a boring experience and I lost 45 minutes of my life learning about characters from the Crucible and not actual stories of people who were hunted. My only advice if you still wish to visit this "museum" is that you sit facing the walls that do not have the giant exhibits since your view will be blocked for the first 10 minutes of the show if you do face those exhibits. After the diorama is over, the attendants will usher you to the next room. The only way to get to the next room is by walking through the bookstore. The next room consists of a wall of pictures of witches depicted in television and movies. There are also three mannequin exhibits, but they are not clearly explained by the tour guide. The guide gave general information that you probably already know or could've learned just from reading the museum website. There aren't many exhibits here and the captions along with the exhibits are also sparse in detailed information. The weirdest part was when the guide somehow brought up Ronald Reagan and AIDS and connected this to the witches ?? After the so-called tour, the guide said we had 20 minutes to explore before the next group came in, and we were welcome to stay, but it did not take 20 minutes to even look at the pitiful exhibits of six books open to pages about witches. I was hoping to learn about the witch hunts in Salem, and, again, I was very disappointed since the topic was barely addressed. Save your money and do not come here!! It is a tourist trap! read more

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It was more of a show, which I thought was cool. What made it even more worth it was my partner's military discount! For the best experience, I recommend sitting near the center of the room, as the narratives are presented through displays on all four walls. The wax figures, accompanied by a pre-recorded narration, provided an immersive perspective on the witch trials. read more

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Informative but SUPER outdated. The first room goes through several animatronics scenes telling the story of Salem Witch Origins, you then move into the second small room to see/read some history, and finally the gift shop. But hey, when in Salem, am I right? ‍ read more

Salem Witch Museum - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Having revisited the Salem Witch Museum more than two decades after my initial experience, I had hoped to witness some level of evolution, enhancement, or modernization in its presentation. Unfortunately, aside from a mildly updated guided tour on a secondary level, the museum remains largely frozen in time -- and not in a charming or historically reverent way, but rather in a disappointingly stagnant one. The main exhibit, which is still driven by an eerie 40-year-old ceiling speaker narration, feels woefully outdated by modern standards. The life-sized mannequins are static, poorly lit, and devoid of any dynamic or immersive quality. Frankly, they resemble wax figures that have sat untouched since the museum's inception, lacking both historical realism and theatrical flair. The disembodied voice -- a ghoulish, overly dramatic male tone that hasn't aged well -- only reinforces the feeling that this attraction is coasting on outdated gimmicks and unrefreshed content. In an era where even small regional museums have adopted interactive media, projection mapping, or basic animatronics to bring stories to life, it's baffling that a site with such a rich, emotionally charged subject matter has not evolved. This museum could -- and should -- embrace its educational potential through meaningful technological updates, immersive audio-visual storytelling, or even simple re-investment in atmospheric lighting and display modernization. Nostalgia can only carry so far. If the museum wants to remain relevant and respectful to both the gravity of the historical events it chronicles and the expectations of contemporary audiences, it needs to make a serious commitment to innovation. Until then, what should be a compelling, haunting exploration of 1692 remains instead a dusty time capsule -- one that risks reducing a tragic chapter in history to little more than a tired Halloween novelty. For $20 bucks a person I expected more, jeez. Verdict: Come for the nostalgia if you must, but if you're expecting an engaging or thoughtfully modern museum experience -- prepare to be disappointed. read more

Not a museum as advertised. A walk through of life sized dummies depicting key moments during the witch trial. Narration was so fast it was hard to hear and distinguish details. Skip it. read more

This museum was very odd. It's basically a big room with a lot of creepy wax figures from the 1970s that are covered in cobwebs and illuminated on and off to tell the story of the Salem Witch Trials. The story itself was interesting, but the presentation was sorely lacking and in desperate need of an update. Definitely not worth the time or money. read more

Salem Witch Museum - Exterior - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Staff was friendly and welcoming. Get a seat in the middle when you are let into the next room. This way you can see various things light up around the room as the story is told. After the show we were taken into another room where we were given a little more history on the trials but were ushered out quickly for the next group to come in. This place has the header beam from the original 1692 jail, (one of only 2 in existence) and it wasn't mentioned by anyone giving the tour there. read more

Salem Witch Museum - One of the light up dioramas in the Main Presentation - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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It's not a museum as much as it is a little show. Kind of a waste of time. Very crowded, long line even with reservations, and I would not go again. Ok, this place is old, cheesy, entertaining, but not a very good value. The gift shop is probably the highlight. We sat on an edge bench and could not see half of the exhibit because it was above and behind us. Our group is unanimous that we would not do this again, and don't recommend it. There wasn't much to learn here that wasn't available in every free brochure and memorial. read more

Wonderful place to visit. A must see someday in your lifetime. Children are amazed at the history of this monument of history. Another interesting observa- tion I noticed is the awe and curiosity that most Adults experienced. read more

If u want to learn about the history of witches and how it started in salem, come check it out. Super interesting. Friendly staff. Issues with their payment machine and we just blamed it on the witches. read more

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Came to Salem on a girls trip during Halloween. In our research it was said this is one of the places you want to make sure you stop in. We got up at midnight and were able to secure tickets. upon entering the main area it's very dark. But once the show started, I felt like it was a bit dated. The announcer reminded me of a 1940s newscast. I enjoyed the stories and the second portion where the employees were explaining some things I found to be a bit interesting. But if you don't get the tickets, don't worry you're not missing. read more

Salem Witch Museum - Museums Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts