Salem's Most Haunted Places

It’s no secret that Salem is known as the Witch City, but few speak of its hauntings. Not only do ghostly witch trial victims still wander the streets, but also seafaring captains, bootleggers, stowaways from far-off lands, and the spirits of enslaved people.

The tragedies of the past, combined with the large crowds who flock to Salem year-round, seem to amplify the paranormal activity in the seaside town. Regardless of the time of year you visit, you will find evidence of ghosts and spirits in residence.

We’ll just scratch the surface of the smorgasbord of ghost activity in the Witch City. You're guaranteed to feel a chill up your spine or feel like unseen eyes are watching you as we wander through Salem.

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The Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House)

The Witch House is the granddaddy of all the haunted locations in Salem, and for good reason.  As the only structure still standing with direct ties to the 1692 witch trials, it harbors all the pent-up tragic energy from that horrific time period. 

The Witch House exterior view of black facade
The Witch House offers tours regularly.
Photo by Jen / CC 3.0

Judge Corwin might have checked out centuries ago, but his house remains firmly booked. Visitors report cold spots that would make a polar bear shiver, footsteps that seem to be giving historical house tours of their own, and the occasional shadowy figure – presumably still waiting for their trial date.

Current staff members have gotten used to doors with minds of their own and lights that turn on and off randomly. 

Turner's Seafood

This spot was originally Bridget Bishop's apple orchard before she became the first to be executed during the witch trials. Now, it's a seafood restaurant where the spirits aren't just in the bar.

Lyceum Hall is also known as Turner's Seafood
The Lyceum Hall is now Turner's Seafood, offering excellent dining with a side of spirits.
Photo by M2545 / CC 3.0

Built in 1831 as the Salem Lyceum (a fancy term for a public meeting house), this building hosted lectures by the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Alexander Graham Bell. These days, it seems some of the audience members decided to stick around for an eternal encore. The basement and bar area of Turner's Seafood is particularly active, and perhaps some spirits feed off the energy and vibes of the living. 

Staff regularly report mysterious apple scents and glimpses of a woman in white, believed to be Bridget Bishop herself, in mirrors and windows. Could she be trying to communicate from beyond the veil, or is her residual energy just repeating old patterns? 

The Hawthorne Hotel

Brick Hawthorne Hotel exterior with bright green awnings
The Hawthorne Hotel is central to all of Salem's attractions.
Photo by Upstateherd / CC 4.0

Opened in 1925, the Hawthorne Hotel is like the “Grande Dame” of Salem's haunted hospitality scene. Named after author Nathaniel Hawthorne (who, ironically, isn't one of the reported ghosts), this hotel offers amenities you won't find in any travel brochure.

Room 612 seems to be the spiritual equivalent of the presidential suite, with more paranormal activity than a ghost hunters' convention. Guests report phantom hands, unexplained sounds, and the occasional maritime visitor in the form of a sea captain whose ship never set sail again.

The sixth floor hallway has become something of a supernatural catwalk, with multiple sightings of a woman in white (not to be confused with the one at Turner's). There is always a lady in white in every haunted town!

House of The Seven Gables 

Built in 1668, this seaside mansion has more layers of history than the pages of its namesake novel. Made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's Gothic novel, the House of the Seven Gables seems to have taken its literary fame to heart by hosting ongoing supernatural mysteries.

Ironically, due to renovations over the years, the house now only has three gables.  Hawthorne’s cousin, Susanna Ingersoll, lived in the home and shared stories with him of earlier times when the house still had the seven gables. It’s believed he used that early time as the basis for his novel. 

Dark painted house with gables with garden landscaping and blue sky
The House of the Seven Gables offers a look at life during Nathaniel Hawthorne's time.
Photo by j_m_d_imagery / CC 2.0

The secret staircase is particularly active – apparently, spirits aren't big fans of using the main entrance. Visitors report tugging on their clothes as they climb, possibly from the ghosts of enslaved and indentured servants warning them to stay away. 

The gardens host spectral garden parties. The Colonial Revival style garden was planted in 1909 to depict an early Salem garden.  Four additional buildings, including Nathanial’s birthplace, have been relocated to the grounds of the House of Seven Gables. Perhaps they brought along their ghostly residents. 

The seaside views are spectacular, but don’t be surprised if you rub elbows with a ghostly pirate or servant. 

Old Burying Point Cemetery

Established in 1637, Old Burying Point Cemetery, also known as Chester Street Cemetery, is the oldest burial ground in Salem and possibly the most active cemetery. Could the reason the spirits are so restless be the fact that the accusers and their victims are buried in the same cemetery?

Here lies Justice John Hathorne, one of the most zealous witch trial judges, who still can’t seem to mind his own business even in death. Visitors report seeing him still patrolling the grounds. That’s one ghost I wouldn’t want to encounter!

17th century simple headstones scattered across cemetery
Old Burying Point contains the graves of witch trial victims as well as their accusers.
Photo by Nick Ares / CC 2.0

Mary Corey, wife of Giles Corey, is also buried here, though she tends to be a quieter resident. Giles was infamously pressed to death during the witch trials because he refused to confess that he was a witch. Mary passed eight years before Giles’ gruesome death. 

Those orbs in your photos? It could be dust, could be spirits, could be 17th-century judges causing chaos. You decide.

Tips for Visiting Salem’s Most Haunted Places

Always respect the residents, both living and otherwise. These spirits have been here longer than you've been alive, and they're probably tired of people asking the same boring questions. 

Turner's Seafood requires dinner reservations, though their spectral patrons seem to show up whenever they please.

The Hawthorne Hotel welcomes both overnight guests and paranormal enthusiasts, though they can't guarantee which room comes with a complimentary ghost sighting. 

As for the Old Burying Point Cemetery, it's open daily until dusk – after that, well, let's just say the nighttime visitors prefer their privacy.

Why These Locations Matter

These aren't just tourist stops on a ghosthunting checklist; they're Salem's living (and not-so-living) history. Each location tells a story, holds a memory, and, yes, possibly hosts a spirit or two who forgot to turn in their keys. By learning about and remembering the past, we can avoid deadly, tragic mistakes that leave scars on a place and people. 

Whether you're a serious paranormal investigator or just someone who enjoys their history with a side of goosebumps, these locations offer something unique. And who knows, that cold spot might not be the air conditioning, that unexplained footstep might not be the tour group above you, and that figure in period clothing might not be a historical reenactor.

This blog post is part of a growing series of blog posts about exploring Salem beyond what you think you know of the Witch City. It also gives you the tools to navigate this spooky gem on the East Coast. 

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