by Denise Calaman

Created on: September 21, 2009

Salem, Massachusetts is a town with a past. A dark past. Salem is one of the oldest settlements in the United States and was settled during a time when people believed that everything bad that happened was performed at the hand of the devil. What happened in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 has earned the town of Salem quite a reputation and the Salem Witch Trials will be forever recognized as one of the most infamous dark spots in American History. Today, the town of Salem cashes in on its dark fame but it also strives to educate people about what really happened so long ago. The Witch Dungeon Museum is one of many places where tourists can visit to learn of the events that led up to the Witch Trials.

The Witch Dungeon Museum offers live reenactments of the Salem Witch Trials. The actors and actresses are professionals dressed in period costume and the reenactments are performed from historical transcripts of the actual trials from 1692. Reenactments performed at the Museum are very authentic and the actors do a wonderful job of recreating the actual events. The reenactments are entertaining and educational although parents of young children should use caution when deciding whether or not a trip to the Witch Dungeon Museum is appropriate for their younger children as the subject matter may be beyond their understanding and may be frightening for them.

The Salem Witch Trial ordeal began when Rev. Parris' daughter and niece began acting very peculiar. They started barking like dogs and having violent fits; bordering on what seemed like to Paris a case of possession. The town's doctor examined them and found nothing physically wrong with the two girls. Then other children started behaving in much the same manner. It was only after one child became afflicted and claimed the devil was after her that the villagers became alarmed. The children stated that spells were being cast upon them and the afflicted started to accuse their neighbors of being witches. The Salem Witch Trials lasted over 13 months and resulted in nineteen people being hanged and one man named Giles Corey was crushed to death by boulders. What had caused such behavior in the children remains a mystery. Theories include ergot poisoning, revenge and/or boredom. Few people today actually believe that any of the people who were killed for witch crimes were actually witches.

The Witch Dungeon Museum is located at 16 Lynde Street in Salem, Massachusetts, 01970 (978-741-3570). It is a short 25 minute drive from Logan airport and is open daily from April through November from 10am through the last reenactment performance at 5 pm. The Museum has special hours in October. For more information visit the Witch Dungeon Museum's website at http://www.witchdungeon.com/witchdungeon.html.

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