Sinister Streets & Salem Stories
Date & Time
Thu Jul 02 2026 at 01:00 pm to 02:30 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Peabody Essex Museum 161 Essex St Salem, MA 01970 | Salem, MA
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Details
Looking to combine your museum visit with a walking tour? Join us for a behind-the-scenes guided tour that pairs our most popular, haunting walking tour with an inside look at objects from the PEM collection.Sinister Streets & Salem Stories starts at the Ward House, which stood within sight of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials hangings on Gallows Hill, and within earshot of the cries of the accused from the Salem jail. Winding through more dark secrets from the city’s past, it finishes by following the steps of a notorious murderer into the Gardner-Pingree House. The killing of Joseph White gripped Salem and the country in 1830 with its brawling brothers, custom-built murder weapons, conspiring family members and a body that was autopsied three times. Follow PEM’s expert guides into the room where it happened – then head into the museum to visit our exhibition Salem Stories and see the real club used by White's killers.
This is an indoor/outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. We’ll see you rain or shine!
This tour involves walking around 0.5 miles, standing on hard surfaces and the use of stairs. Historic structures are not ADA accessible. Strollers may be used on the tours, but may not be brought into any of the historic structures. Historic houses may include areas of low lighting and uneven surfaces. Assisted listening devices are used on all tours.
You can also follow our expert guides on Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories for an in-depth look at architecture across downtown Salem, from a millionaire’s mansion to a working-class sailor’s house. Or, try Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders and Literary Legendsfor a similar tour that does not go into the museum.
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Know before you go
1.5 hours, 0.5 miles
Meet at the anchor in front of East India Marine Hall on Essex Street.
This is an indoor/outdoor tour. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. We’ll see you rain or shine!
This walking tour includes museum admission.
$50 Adults (ages 17+)
$47 Seniors (ages 65+)
$40 Students (with school ID), military, veterans, MTA/Teachers
$15 Salem residents, museum members and members’ children ages 6-16 years old
No charge for children 5 years or younger (ticket still required)
Tickets can be purchased:
Online at pem.org
In person at the Admissions desk
Outside the museum on tour days (161 Essex Street)
Event Location
Peabody Essex Museum 161 Essex St Salem, MA 01970, 150 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970-3701, United States
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Event Host
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