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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Salem

18 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Salem, Massachusetts

Updated January 22, 2025

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

12 Places in Massachusetts Where Literature Comes to Life

Massachusetts is a lit-lover's paradise. From landscapes that have moved writers to wax poetic about beans to story-inspired sculpture parks and shops stacked with volumes new and old, the Bay State would also be aptly named the Book State. Here are 12 places to celebrate writers or the places that inspired them.

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Explore Salem, Massachusetts

18
Witches 5
Homes 4
Houses 4
Witchcraft 3
Architecture 3
History & Culture 3
Memorials 2
Eccentric Homes 2

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Stories About Salem

Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle.

The Greatest Witch Movie Ever Made

Why do modern witches embrace "The Wicker Man"?
by Pat Cassels

Were the Salem Witch Trials Ruff on Dogs?

The 17th-century event claimed at least 25 human lives. Whether any dogs were killed is unclear—but accusations against them had a familiar theme.
by Bridget Marshall
George Jacobs, whose witchcraft trial is shown here in Thomkins H. Matteson’s 1855 painting, was one of 19 people hanged as a witch during the 1692 Salem witch trials.

The Salem Witch Trials Actually Happened in Danvers, Massachusetts

Tensions between Salem and Danvers were there from the start—contributing to the ensuing witch hysteria.
by Theresa McKinney
These eggs see all.

The Long, Extremely Witchy History of Telling the Future With Eggs

From ancient Greece to the Salem Witch Trials.
by Diana Hubbell
A witch cake from the village of Bempton, which collector William Clarke dated to 1850.

Remembering ‘Witch Cakes,’ the Evil-Fighting Baked Goods of the 1600s

Are these cakes weapons against dark forces or just “spiky bagels”?
by Sam O'Brien

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