by Christine Sandor

Created on: August 08, 2009

Salem, Massachusetts is synonymous with Witches and The Witch Trials of the late 1600's. A trip to Salem evokes the rich history of time when fear and hysteria ran rampant. As tourists travel Salem's Heritage Trail they can easily find all of the sites and sounds of this Historic community, including the Salem Witch Museum located at Washington Square North, right near the Salem Commons and the historic Hawthorne hotel.

If you wish to learn all about the witch trials of 1692 and the witch frenzy that spread through this New England country side, this museum offers exactly that. Unlike most museums don't expect long walks down endless corridors' or paintings and artifacts spread in various locations. After entering the museum you are ushered into a large darkened room to bare witness to the horrors that invaded the east cost over three hundred years ago.

In a moment you travel through time to an era riddled with superstition, fear of the unknown and finger pointing. Human sized figures are illuminated as the story is told. As you watch and listen you bare witness to the hunt of humans and the accusations of a few. As the story is told, visitors are shown the replica's of what the hero's and villain's of the tail may have looked like.

Although the Salem Witch Museum is not a traditional museum as we might think of one, it is one of the few places where the historical facts of a time of chaos and confusion is clearly told. Visitors will hear the accounts of how the hysteria began, learn the names of the important people involved in the witch trials and view scenes of what the people and places looked liked over three centuries ago.

The museum's newer exhibit Witches: Evolving Perceptions takes a look at what history has known as witch through to current thoughts on witches and witchcraft. The exhibit displays a series of nine pictures looking at the meaning of the word witch and it's metamorphosis over the centuries. Finally you are able to learn all about the practice of Wicca today.

Admission to the Salem Witch Museum is Eight dollars for adults, Seven for Senior Citizens and five dollars and fifty cents for children ages 6-14. Special accommodations and pricing for group tours is also available simply by calling the Museum at 978.744.1692

The Museum is open year round 10 am to 5pm with special summer hours of 10am-7pm. Weekend hours are extended during the October Haunted Happening's celebration. The museum is open then till 10 pm on weekends and till Midnight on Halloween!

If you are heading to Salem to take in the magic, the Salem Witch Museum may well be a considered stop. For more information be sure to check out The official site of the Musuem at http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com

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