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This is the house where Jonathan Corwin lived with his wife, Elizabeth Gibbs. Jonathan Corwin presided over the Salem Witch Trials, during which a group of teenage girls claimed to be bewitched and accused numerous adults of practicing witchcraft. Corwin and fellow local magistrate John Hathorne not only took these accusations seriously but also contributed to the mass hysteria that led to the execution of 19 innocent people and the imprisonment of more than 150 others. No trial-related activities were conducted in this house, and very few items on display originally belonged to Jonathan Corwin. This house is the only authentic building that survives from the Salem witch hunt era. It was moved from its original location because of road construction.
This is a small museum in an old historic house with real history throughout. There's a guide on each level and they were all really enthusiastic and open to questions. It's especially cool to explore a historic building itself instead of a museum that's just set up. There are some real relics and great information panels. It is on the smaller side, but that actually works well if you have a busy day in Salem, since it's a solid 40 minute stop. There's also a cute small gift shop at the end. The only thing I would change is giving a little more history. A lot of the panels talked about theories instead of real events, and also there were a lot of questions that came up while reading. More info cards could be given.
While I did not get to enter Witch House, I did get to admire the building from the outside and get photos with it from the front. I came in the late afternoon in late August, before the Halloween tourists started swarming Salem. It's a very aesthetic black house, rich with Salem history. Definitely an easy landmark to catch if you visit Salem.
The house was tiny (unexpected for that era). It was interesting to learn so much about the early settlers of Salem surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. Overall, the house was in good shape, and a piece of history is very well kept. The house had a musty smell to this. We were there in Jun and just walked in at 10 AM when they opened. However, during the Halloween season it seems like they sell out quite often!
I really enjoyed the Witch House. It had nothing to do with witches but it is the last standing structure that has direct ties to the witch trials during that time period owned by a judge who was involved in the witch trials. If you are a history buff, this is a great place for you to check out and see. The tour is self guided and the house has some really cool artifacts from that time period. The whole aspect of the house is really cool with it being so old. We were in the house for about 20 mins. It was nice being able to go during off season, we were able to buy tickets there and get in right away, I heard during the busier season you need to buy tickets online and it can be difficult to snag one.
This is a small museum in Salem compared to some of the other museums. I don't know if you're necessarily learning anything new about the Salem witch trials, but you do get to see how a family lived during this time. There are stairs and it isn't handicap accessible.
It was all sold out by the time we got there but it was really cool to see this part of history and also to get a picture. I recommend that and it's free
The Salem Witch house was the home of Jonathan Corwin who was one of the main witch trial judges. This home was considered stately for it's time, and offers a glimpse into daily life during the 1600's. Tickets are tricky because they are released at 8AM the day of and sell out quickly. Wake up early because by 9AM the tickets were sold out for the day. The tour is self guided with nice signs that explain the room and some of the historical items from the trials. The tour starts at the back of the house at the gift shop and ends exiting the front door of the house. If there is anything you want in the gift shop it has to be bought at the beginning, which is a bit backwards. Anyhow, the home offers a rich history for the time and is worth a tour.
My boyfriend and I visited Salem on Halloween this year and made sure to take pictures outside of the witch house. We didn't actually go in but the architecture/color of the home definitely gave the perfect spooky vibes. From the reviews and what I read, the house tour is just ok. Probably not a must but only if you're really interested or have time to kill. People were really patient and made time and an appropriate line for pictures.
This was the one place I really wanted to see in Salem but admittedly did not do any research on. You enter through the back of the home, into a small gift shop area. There are some interesting items here but overall, the displays and reading materials are a bit boring. We did a self guided tour and were in and out in about 30 minutes. I don't know if a guided tour is offered but if it is I would suggest taking that instead.
If you visit Salem, this is a must-see stop. The historical artifacts here are amazing to see first hand and are all in great condition. There are very few opportunities to walk into and experience what homes were like so many years ago. I am grateful for the preservation efforts on these historical sites. Planning our visit in August rather than the busy Fall season was the best decision we could've made. It allowed us to take our time reading the information and really take in the significance of what we were seeing without dealing with massive crowds or being rushed through.
Minus the waiting until 8am and then start the panicky frenzie of trying to get a reservation, it's a good experience to see... because it's quintessential October in Salem, it's pure puritan living in real time, and lastly, you scored a ticket to enter, rejoice and then do it. It's probably 20-30 minutes total, some interesting history and living information, it's cool, but only if you don't have a conniption trying to obtain a ticket at 8 AM on the dot. Don't even try it at 8:01 folks.
When researching places to visit in Salem, the Witch House consistently came up as a top attraction. This makes sense - it's the Witch City so of course this would be a natural spot for tourists to flock to. I had a few things on my itinerary to see while in the city, so I made plans to check this place out before heading back to Boston. Even though it's called the Witch House, it's somewhat of a misnomer as witches did not live here. Rather, this was the home of Jonathan Corwin - one of the judges in the Salem Witch Trials. That's really where the "witch house" name comes from, as it's the only structure still standing that has direct ties to the trials. I think this fact leads to the somewhat polarizing opinions of the house, as many people come in expecting that witches resided here. While it's relatively easy to get a picture in front of the house, it's tougher to book a reservation to go inside. Reservations can only be made same day, and open on Eventbrite at 8am in 10-minute slots. I was on the app right at 8am, and still it took about 5 tries for me to secure a reservation - they go fast so I would definitely recommend booking a slot as soon as they open. I arrived at the house shortly before my reservation time - you enter in the back of the house which logistically makes sense as the front always has crowds snapping pics. Upon entry you're immediately greeted by the gift shop where we had a chance to pick up some merch before heading into the exhibit areas of the house. The house is self-guided and split into two levels - in each room there are different displays and texts to help put everything into context. There are also staff members on each floor who are available to answer questions. While I thought the house was interesting, I'm not convinced that the juice is worth the squeeze here. I got more out of other attractions in Salem that were much easier to secure reservations for. Don't get me wrong - the historical significance of this house is massive, but I think the execution could have been better. Putting the gift shop up front naturally makes you less prone to make a purchase, and even with that there was a poor selection. I also think having a guided tour would have helped me learn more about the house. I realize, though, the house itself creates structural and logistical limitations. If you can snag a reservation here I would definitely jump on the chance to visit the Witch House. If not, I wouldn't sweat it - snap a pic outside and carry on.
2 years ago
This house is ok. Its 80% of the original construction, non of the original furniture, and just a house. The fireplace is nice. Beams are nice, but I am not sure if I would recommend or even want to go back. Seems over priced for the tour. But then again, how often do you get to see the inside of a home from the 1600's I guess for history, its worth walking in before its gone for good. But you are not missing much. Floors are not original or the stairs, and cant see the third story. Probably the coolest part of the house. read more
2 years ago
Based on reviews, my mom and I decided to check this place out instead of the other touristy things dealing with witches. I like facts and although this museum provided a lot of facts, they were all there for you to read. I know we are in the time of COVID, but I wish there was at least some more of a tour component to it. In other tours that we took this trip, there were tour guides who talked and shared stories, etc. Expect to read everything, and look at a variety of things. Although, it is interesting subject material, it is not exciting. I'd still pick this place over other museums in the area, but if you are expecting one thing, you'll be disappointed. Also, no on-site bathrooms. read more
Our visit to the Witch House was awesome! We went during the busiest time of year, and thankfully the timed tickets helped to cut down on the crowding. If you plan to visit, make sure to go on their Eventbrite page first thing in the morning in order to get tickets. They post the tickets the day-of, and you need to be quick as they sell out extremely fast. This is probably due to the number of people visiting Salem in the fall, and the small number of people that can be in the house at any given time. When you visit the Witch House at the time you purchased, be sure to go around the back in order to enter. Don't go through the front door where everyone is taking pictures! That is actually the exit. A sign pointing where to go would have been helpful! You enter through the gift shop (which was previously a summer kitchen), and then are escorted into the main area of the house. This is by far one of the oldest buildings I've been to in the US, as it was built in the 1600s. It's really cool to see the British house construction influence here. The home belonged to Jonathan Corwin, who was one of the main judges during the witch trials in Salem. The staff will be eager to tell you all about the history of his home, and they are super helpful! The space is very well-maintained, with lots of original materials as well as some recreations to fit the time. The house has plenty of items to look at, with lots of different write-ups so you can learn about how it was to live in Colonial times. One especially interesting fact I learned was that the second-greatest cause of death during those times was infections from burns. People who used to cook in the kitchen would often catch fire, as folks needed to cook over an open flame. Scary stuff! Overall, I really enjoyed our visit to the Witch House. It was crowded, but that is to be expected. Some signs pointing out the entrance and a smoother ticket-purchasing process would be helpful, though we still managed to make it work. read more
What a fascinating museum! Oh gosh I loved it! So much detailed information about a historical event and period that has always interested me personally - but I dare say that anyone would find this museum of value, even if you're not especially into the witch trials and all that. (Just FYI - no pics allowed on the inside). Not only do the exhibits talk about the witch trials, but they also show you what life and medical practices etc were really like back then...they even have pieces original to the family and the home, down to some of the floorboards so well preserved you can still see the writing/marks from the carpenters that put them in! Right now they're doing timed-entry self guided tours, so basically you just walk around the rooms and read the info and look at the pieces of history etc. But the docent was highly knowledgeable and gave some additional info to start us off. I highly recommend you plan way ahead and book your tickets in advance - there were so many people desperate to get in but they were all sold out for days. I booked my tickets for 10am about 2-3 weeks ahead of time. Probably October is especially busy bc of all the Halloween events as well. They don't allow anyone to use their bathrooms either due to Covid...there are port-a-potties scattered around town and they were gracious enough to let me run and use one before my tour - even though it made me like 10 mins late. They were very accommodating! Parking is kind of a pain...I had to drive around a couple of times until I found a lot and it cost me about $5 to park for an hour. It ends up being a lot more later in the day, so be aware. I didn't see any street parking and definitely no free parking lol. This just happens to be one of those things it's best to plan ahead for...ie tickets in advance, bathroom plan and parking etc. read more
3 years ago
The witch house belonged to the Judge Corwin who was the judge that's sentenced during the witch trial. The house has amazing artifacts and a great amount of important information from the witch trial in 1692. It's affordable and such an important piece of history. Before heading there I highly recommend you go online and a reserve a time slot. The house is watching distance from the downtown area of Salem. It's a really nice walk with a lot of shops on the way. Also, it is self guided. read more
A great time warp into colonial times! Cool facts, views, and could be done in like maybe 20 minutes if you truly need a quick tour in Salem. Highly recommend chatting or asking the staff at the museum about things as it was more interactive and interesting that way! Also cute small gift shop at the entrance and super well priced items to take home a quick momento! Tip: They do require masks so be sure to bring them for you and your party as unfortunetly they dis not have any to provide ! read more
So how cool is this? A Witch House? Well actually it's not an actual Witch's House. But it is the last real structure tied to the Salem witch trials. The Witch House,l was actually the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. Judge Corwin Known as the local magistrate and civic leader, Corwin was called to investigate the claims of diabolical activity when a surge of witchcraft accusations arose in Salem and neighboring communities. He served on the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which ultimately sent nineteen to the gallows. All nineteen refused to admit to witchcraft and maintained their innocence. It is a very cool house to tour, a lot of little items to read about and although very tiny (I mean 1660s this was probably a mansion house). Just the history behind the house is really mind blowing to think about. Like this is the house of the judge who wrongfully sent 19 people to the gallows because of idiotic claims of witchcraft. It's history is great but mind blowing. I definitely recommend going just to hear and see the history and how this ties out to the trials.. read more
A nice piece of history. Definitely recommend a stop here to see inside. Parking is street parking and they do have ac inside. However there is a certain scent inside. When we went it was during a holiday week and was a bit crowded once we were leaving. The ambiance is pretty cool and there are some artifacts inside. There is a small staircase to get upstairs. It's a self guided tour with a very small gift shop but worth it. Pricing is reasonable. read more
This is a quick little walk through in the house of judge Corwin. He was basically the guy you went to to accuse a person of witchcraft. His wife and him had 10 kids 5 of which didn't make it to the age of 1. It's said that the kids still hang out in the house. It's creepy and small but definitely worth the price Is $12 to walk around and see all the things inside. The gift shop had really good soap and was priced fairly. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
PSA: the entrance is in the back. They were 20 minutes late to open on a Saturday in July or at least put the sign out that tells you the entrance is in the back, so we almost gave up. It wasn't obvious. It was an okay self-guided tour. A bit overpriced for four rooms with some signs to read about life in the 1600s and medical practices of old. I guess herbal treatments=witchcraft? It's worth stopping by to see the only existing building with a connection to the Salem Witch Trials, but I sort of wish I'd saved the money and just taken the picture out front. If you get there early, check out the public gardens of the Ropes Mansion down the street. read more
8 years ago
Eh, it's okay, but it sure does feel like a tourist trap. The website says "Witch House tours blend information about seventeenth-century lifestyles, furnishings, and architecture with fascinating insights into the events of 1692." But they don't do tours. They have signs around that you can read about the family and the time, but reading dozens of placards gets a little tiring quickly. There are a couple of employees around to answer questions, so I'm not sure why they DON'T just do tours. It would be a lot more interesting to listen to someone then ask questions then to read a bunch of things. It just didn't seem like you could immerse in the experience. The site says it's $8ish for self guided and $10 for guided, but that wasn't an option presented to me. How do you do both? Have a guide but then forbid the self-guiders from listening? The name also has very little ties except it was owned by one of the judges. It's not a bad little house to walk through to admire the furnishings, but the price seemed a little steep for what it was. It was okay but seemed like it wasn't much to experience. read more
Save your money and go to a different museum. The Witch House tour is self guided, and the items that are inside on display don't look genuine. They look like replicas. Also, the amount of people the staff let in is too many considering how small it is inside. So not only are you crowded while trying to read the items on display, but you also feel rushed because people are waiting for you to move. I came on a Monday in July, so I can only imagine how much more crowded it can get during Halloween season. read more
We went to the Witch House during our trip to Salem, it was in October so the town was very busy but we got our tickets ahead of time online and didn't have to wait long to go in. Definitely felt like you were stepping back in time for a moment. The staff told you a little about the place in the beginning and then you had free roam around the house from there. read more
3 years ago
This was a great stop on our historical tour of Salem. The house is small so it doesn't take long to walk through the entire thing. All of the artifacts had great descriptions. I was with my young kinds so I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked reading everything. They had staff in each room to answer any questions that you might have. I was surprised but my kids really enjoyed our visit as well. read more
Another museum with strong opposing opinions on its value from reviewers. I decided to go and am glad I did. This location is the home of the judge of the Salem witch trials. He was living within these same walls, on the same floor. For me that provides a bit of gravity. None of the furnishings inside belonged to him. One of the curators was very friendly and provided a lot of information, especially on a few locations to visit in Danvers (Salem Village at the time.) One of note is the Samuel Parris archeological site of the parsonage at 65 Centre St in Danvers. read more
5 years ago
7 years ago
Salem. In October. Of course we went to the Witch House! It is really a cool site to see and makes for some stunning pictures due to its imposing exterior. Lines can get long, so get there early if you are able! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
-House is small (about 2 rooms downstairs and 2 upstairs) but has many cool historical artifacts, informative plaques/posters -allowed to take pictures indoors -has military discount for entrance but no discount at the gift shop -good stop for Halloween -tourist must during stop in Salem due its historical significance read more
This place was not about "witches" but about the person who lived there during the witch persecution period and trials (like all the other reviews mention, inappropriately named hours). However, it was a very informative stop and I imagine would be better with an actual guided tour as opposed to just reading yourself. read more
5 years ago
What a beautiful and eerie landmark. A must see when you are traveling to Salem. The house was not open due to covid but we will be back! read more
7 years ago
If you're considering going here, I'm going to assume you are visiting as a tourist. Salem is less than an hour drive from Boston. Considering the towns history of both maritime and the witchcraft hysteria, it has an enchanting feel in the downtown area. Really, it's a fairly typical suburban and residential city. When looking into which museum or tour to go to, I'm glad we chose this one because it is the only still standing structure that has a direct tie to the witch trials. It is a smallish home but back then was considered large and elite. The home belongs to one of the judges during the actual witch trials of 1692. The home itself is the museum. Not surprisingly, you are asked not to touch anything in the museum because they want to preserve the articles and Furniture inside. Obviously, also no flash photography. For $8.50 you can enter the home and you will have a self-guided tour. Although there is no guide, there were a few staff members that were walking around and were entirely open to answering any questions you have. These employees absolutely knew their history and were an incredible resource. When you enter the home, what you will find is that the area you purchase your tickets in is also shared with the gift shop. I am a sucker for a gift shop so I will just mention that the gift shop was quite small. It mostly sold books and a few souvenirs. As I referenced above, there are a good handful of so-called museums about the Salem witch trials in town. Yet, I recommend you look into the places you are considering visiting. A number of them are more performance-based which I'm sure would be good for children but not if you are looking for actual historical information. On a side note, the witch house is also in the downtown area so it is not far from places to eat. read more
This is the only structure still standing that has a direct tie to the witch trials BUT there wasn't much to it. There were some artifacts throughout the small house, but honestly I got more from the House of the Seven Gables tour. The woman at the front taking the money didn't offer any information, we had to figure it out on our own. The Witch House is self-guided, you move at your own pace. There are pros and cons to that. The pro is that you can move at your own pace, take as many photos as you'd like. The cons is that there isn't really anyone to ask questions of. The displays were of random parts of life from the period, as well as some random witch explanations. There was one docent throughout the entire place and she was engaged in conversation with one person. The space is extremely small, so maneuvering around can be difficult. In my opinion, the cost just doesn't match the "attraction". read more
7 years ago
This house was right down the street from our hotel. Naturally this was the first place we went. The entrance is in the rear. You have to go through the gift shop first and that is where you pay for entrance. When looking at this house just from the outside you can tell it's old and has a lot of history. It is actually Salem's only home with direct ties to the witch trials of 1692. Most of the furniture inside is also authentic and very fragile. This house belonged to Jonathan Corwin and his family. They purchased it in 1675. In 1692 Corwin was called upon as the local magistrate to investigate the witchcraft claims. I highly recommend adding this house to your must see list when planning your trip. read more
7 years ago
4 years ago
7 years ago
A quick 20 min walk through for this ancient relic. $11 admission and a long line. At least in october. Make sure to go in the earlier half of the day as it sells out quick. A lot of cool artifacts like brain moss people would stick up their noses for nose bleeds read more
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Witch House - museums - Updated September 2026
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