Have you ever wondered why witches fly on broomsticks in pop-culture? Or heard that moldy bread caused the Salem witch trials? And just how old is the famous magician’s spell “Abracadabra”?
At the Salem Witch Museum, visitors of all ages are immersed in the long and fascinating history of witchcraft. Two unique, multi-media exhibits explore the Salem witch trials of 1692, the European witch hunts, the evolving image of the witch, and the enduring relevance of these events in our modern world.
Utilizing life-sized stage sets, dramatic narration, and lighting, the first exhibit explores the history of the Salem witch trials. This audio-visual presentation tells the story of the real men and women drawn into the infamous events of 1692. Seated throughout a darkened auditorium, visitors are immersed in the largest and deadliest witch-hunt in colonial North American history.
A guided tour of the second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, explores the European witch trials, emergence of a stereotypical witch, and endurance of scapegoating. In the summer of 2024 the museum unveiled two new artifact displays in this exhibit space. These fascinating objects include four rare books published during the witch trials period. Each offers an important perspective on early modern witchcraft, ranging from a 1600 edition of the notorious witch hunter’s manual the Malleus Maleficarum, to a 1586 edition of De Praestigiis Daemonum, the first significant book to openly criticize the witch persecutions in Europe.
The exhibit also includes displays relating to the evolving image of the witch in popular culture and the history of magic. Among these curious items can be found a famous French grimoire (book of magic) Les Secrets Merveilleux De La Magie Naturelle Du Petit Albert, a first edition of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and a signed first edition of Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Tours of the Salem Witch Museum are offered every half hour, beginning at 10:00 am and concluding at 5:00 pm. For group pricing and reservations visit: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/group-tours/
Unable to bring a class for a fieldtrip? Our Education Department offers virtual programming for students from elementary to university level. Choose from a number of interesting presentations about the Salem witch trials, the fact vs. fiction of The Crucible, life in colonial New England, and the legacy of witchcraft. Each program consists of a 30-45-minute presentation given by one of our staff educators plus additional time for Q&A. For more information about virtual programming options, visit www.salemwitchmuseum.com/virtualprogramming
Written by Rachel Christ-Doane, Director of Education, Salem Witch Museum
Photo courtesy of Salem Witch Museum.
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