Exhibitions on view
Exhibition
The Salem Witch Trials 1692
Ongoing
Exhibition
Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums
On view through February 2, 2025
Exhibition
Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend
On view through June 15, 2025
October events
Magic Performances
Saturdays in October | Noon–3 pm
See spellbinding magic shows from Salem magicians Evan Northrup and Anton Andresen inside our new exhibition Conjuring the Spirit World.
Meet the Author: A Salem Witch with Daniel A. Gagnon
Sunday, October 13 | 3—6 pm
Meet local author Daniel A. Gagnon! His nonfiction book A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse vividly recreates 17th-century Salem and challenges previous interpretations of Rebecca Nurse's life and the Salem Witch Trials.
Haunted Histories: Fatal Graces
Thursday, October 17 & Friday, October 18 | 6:00–10 pm
Our chilling tales of murder and mystery return! Encounter the restless spirits of New England’s dark history as they roam through PEM’s historic houses in this immersive imagining.
Meet the Author: Cult Following with J.W. Ocker
Friday, October 18 | 3—6 pm
Meet J.W. Ocker, author of Cult Following. This international compendium of 30 infamous cults “sheds light on the terrifying attraction of cults.
Virtual Create Night: Palm Reading
Thursday, October 24 | 7–8 pm
This event is SOLD OUT
Learn the mystical, ancient art of palm reading with palmistry expert and artist Helene Childress.
Decorations at Ropes Mansion
Friday, October 25–Thursday, October 31 | 318 Essex Street
See the exterior of our historic home decorated in the style of the classic Salem-based film Hocus Pocus and take a selfie outside!
November events
Magic Performances
Select Saturdays in November | Noon–3 pm
See spellbinding magic shows from Salem magicians Evan Northrup and Anton Andresen inside our new exhibition Conjuring the Spirit World.
Family-friendly events
Drop-In Art Activity
Frankenstein Creature Collages
Fridays in October | 3–4:30 pm
Construct your own original creature by stitching together materials, prints and textures. Recommended for ages 10+.
Drop-In Art Activity
Decorative Potion Bottles
Weekends in October | 1–3 pm
Brew up a decorative potion in a bottle to get into the Halloween spirit. Recommended for ages 4+.
Event
Georgia Made This: 6th Annual Coin Hunt
Weekends in October & Halloween day
Join the search for hidden gold coins designed by Salem teen Georgia Wrenn. Clues to the hiding spots will be released on PEM’s Instagram @peabodyessex.
Walking Tours
Walking Tour
Brick by Brick: Salem's Hidden Architectural Stories
Follow our expert guides for an in-depth look at architecture across downtown Salem, from a millionaire’s mansion to a working-class sailor’s house.
Walking Tour
Sinister Streets: Witch Trials, Murders and Literary Legends
Follow our expert guides into the dark side of Salem history and walk through landmarks of 1692, plus the site of a gruesome murder that made headlines in 1830 and inspired Edgar Allan Poe.
Tour
PEM in an Hour
Hit the highlights of PEM’s globetrotting collection. Available in English and Spanish.
Tour
Ropes Mansion
During weekends through October, tour this iconic historic property. (Fun fact: Did you know the exterior was Allison’s house in Hocus Pocus?).
Tour
Witch Trials Walk
Journey through the museum and to sites around Salem to hear compelling stories about the witch trials from PEM curators and local experts.
Know before you go: October FAQs
The Halloween season brings roughly one million visitors to the city every October. Expect crowds, plan ahead and take public transportation whenever possible.
Parking downtown can be limited, especially during October. We suggest that you arrive early, carpool, take an Uber or hop on the MBTA commuter rail. If you plan to drive, take a look at the available parking options here.
When you purchase a general admission ticket, visitors will be able to find restrooms available throughout the museum. The nearest public porta-potties are located next to the National Park Service Center off of Armory Park, across the street from the museum’s main entrance. The full list of Salem’s public restroom access can be found here.
Read about our options at pem.org/access and fill out our Accommodation and Accessibility form if you’d like to request a wheelchair, sign language assistance or other resources during your visit. PEM is certified Sensory Inclusive and partners with KultureCity.
Head down to 318 Essex Street to see the exterior of our historic Ropes Mansion decorated in the style of the classic ‘90s film from October 25–31. Snap a selfie and tag @peabodyessex! To tour the interior, please purchase tickets HERE.
Our Salem Witch Trials gallery is a smaller space; please be prepared to wait at the exhibition entrance, especially on weekends. Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums is also a popular fall exhibition and may be crowded. Wait times may occur for the live magic performances inside our Conjuring exhibition as availability is limited. Timed tickets are available inside the gallery on the day of your visit, and may run out quickly.
Visitors who enjoy reading and exploring in detail may spend up to an hour in The Salem Witch Trials 1692. Since this is a smaller gallery space, we encourage you to try our Witch Trials Walk, too. This audio-guided walking tour offers an in-depth explanation of the infamous events of 1692 and takes you through historic sites around downtown Salem.
Yes! You’re more than welcome to step out of the museum and head back inside the galleries before we close. Last re-entry is at 4:45pm. Just be sure to keep your admissions tag with you.
We have family-friendly drop-in art making every weekend. Visit the Create Space Studios from 3–4:30 pm on Fridays or 1–3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays for seasonal art activities! Kids are also encouraged to touch and explore every day in The Pod.
Yes, we have a two day pass available and it can be purchased at the Admissions Desk. The days must be consecutive for entry. This pass is not available for purchase online.
Tickets to Yin Yu Tang are available to reserve in-person only at the admission and information desks through Sunday, November 3. Online reservations will resume on Monday, November 4.
Keep exploring
Blog
Behind the scenes of our collection highlights tour
5 Min read
Press Release
New PEM exhibition explores our enduring fascination with the supernatural
