Salem and the witch trials self-guided walking audio tour

This harrowing tour begins at the Salem Armory. From there, you walk to the 1692 Memorial, where the victims of the witch panic are memorialized. Here, you’ll get to know many of the key figures who found themselves swept up by the plague of fear and paid the ultimate price.

Next, you’ll see the Old Burying Point, where many of the trials’ victims and aggressors were laid to rest. Listen to the tragically heroic tale of Giles Corey as you walk through the gravestones, a man who refused to bow to the nightmare overtaking his town and was immortalized in The Crucible.

After that, you’ll pass by some of Salem’s spookiest architecture, including the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. You’ll also hear of the secret tunnels which run beneath some of these buildings, many of which still exist to this day!

Continue on past the old jailhouse, where innocent people were subjected to cruelty so terrible that some suggest their spirits never really left. By this point, you’re bound to think some of these things look familiar, so we’ll scratch that itch by telling you all about Hollywood’s many forays into Salem, including hits like Hocus Pocus and Bewitched.

Then, you’ll pass by the Witch Museum on your way back and hear about how all the madness finally came to an end. The final stop brings you to the Salem Common, where we’ll wrap up with some things you probably didn’t know about the aftermath of the trials.

Along the way, there are plenty of optional detours available for those looking for a little more, from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s house to a tavern infamous for 18th-century kidnappings!