Salem Witch Trial Historical Sites in Danvers

When most people think of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, they think of modern-day Salem, Massachusetts. The trials and hangings did happen in Salem, then called Salem Town. However, the witch hysteria began in Salem Village, now known as Danvers, Massachusetts.

While Salem houses key historical sites and fascinating museums (see my list of the best museums in Salem, Massachusetts here), Danvers has some of the most important witch trial sites. In this article, I list the locations that my husband and I visited on our trip to Danvers. This is only a sampling of Danvers’ rich history, and I fully intend to explore more of the city on future trips.

Salem Witchcraft Victims’ Memorial

I recommend starting your Danvers visit at the Salem Witchcraft Victims’ Memorial. The memorial has a gravel parking lot and is within walking distance of a few other significant locations. You’ll notice that the memorial, along with the other sites I list, lie within a residential neighborhood. If you do travel to Danvers, please be respectful of the residents and their privacy.

The Salem Witchcraft Victims’ Memorial stands on Hobart Street, directly opposite the site of the original Salem meetinghouse. Today, there are homes where the meetinghouse used to be, but there is a sign that marks the spot (on the same side of the street as the memorial). The memorial itself is a beautiful stone structure, which features haunting quotations from the witch trial victims. It was dedicated on May 9, 1992, to commemorate the trials’ 300th anniversary.

First Church & Ingersoll’s Ordinary

From the memorial, walk southwest along Hobart Street. At the intersection with Center Street, you’ll find three more historical landmarks. First, you’ll see the First Church of Danvers Congregational. In 1702, after the witch hysteria, the village built a new meetinghouse at this site. It is commemorated with a sign that honors Reverend Joseph Green, who helped restore peace to Salem.

Additionally, this small hill was once the highest point in Salem Village and the site of the watchtower. The militia used the watchtower to watch for intruders, and it might have functioned as a jail during the Salem Witch Trials. No marker for the watchtower stands at the site.

On the opposite side of the intersection, you’ll see Ingersoll’s Ordinary. During the 1692 witch trials, this white, colonial-style house was a tavern. Residents gathered at Ingersoll’s after the witch examinations to drink, eat, and gossip. Today, the building is a private residence, so you cannot see inside.

Salem Village Parsonage

Head northwest on Center Street. Between houses 67 and 69, you’ll find a path marked by a blue sign. Follow it between the private residences to visit the Salem Village Parsonage. This was my favorite Salem Witch Trial historical site in Danvers because it marks where the witch hysteria began. Today, nothing remains but the home’s stone foundation, which archaeologists excavated in 1970. But back in 1692, this site held the home of Reverend Samuel Parris and his daughter Betty and niece Abigail Williams, the first two girls “inflicted” by witchcraft.

The site includes signs that give historical information on the parsonage and its role in the Salem Witch Trials. Though fencing surrounds the area, visitors can go inside to read the signs and even stand inside the home’s foundation. Just be careful on the uneven steps and don’t disturb the foundation!

The Rebecca Nurse Homestead

On our way out of Danvers, my husband and I stopped at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. This historical property features the original home of Rebecca Nurse, one of the most prominent witch trial victims. It also includes a life-sized reproduction of the Salem Village meetinghouse, which was constructed for the PBS film, 3 Sovereigns for Sarah. The property hosts four tours per day, and the tour is well worth the $8 price. My husband and I have taken the tour twice now, and both times, the tour guides have been incredibly knowledgable and friendly.

As a bonus, you can walk through the pasture behind the homestead to visit the Nurse family burial ground. It features a memorial to Rebecca Nurse, a second statue honoring the witch trial victims, and the graves of other prominent Nurse family members. As you might know, the church did not allow witch trial victims a proper Christian burial. Instead, they buried the bodies in shallow graves near the hanging site. However, according to legend, the Nurse family retrieved Rebecca’s body in the middle of the night and buried her in the family plot. Her grave is likely marked by one of the burial ground’s unengraved stones.

A Final Word

Unlike your trip to Salem, Massachusetts, your visit to Danvers will be solitary and quiet. There are no crowds of tourists or cheesy witch figurines. You will stand at the actual sites where the witch hysteria began, where monuments to the past have been erected alongside people’s homes, a school, and a modern church. Visiting these sites was a deeply moving experience, but I also felt like an intruder, gawking at the biggest tragedy in Danvers’ history. The best I could do, and the best you can do when you visit, is to be respectful of its residents, past and present.

For more information on Salem Witch Trial historical and tourist sites, I highly recommend Hunting For Witches: A Visitor’s Guide to the Salem Witch Trials by Frances Hill. This short book features a chronicle of the trials, as well as tips and information on visiting dozens of trial-related sites.

Which are your favorite Salem Witch Trial historical sites in Danvers? What are your tips for people planning a visit here? Share in the comments!

Want a FREE short story set in Salem? Join Kate’s Coven to read The Witch and discover whether Salem’s one true witch can save the town from the devil.