The name of the city is a synonym for witchcraft; and the small town of Salem lives with the memories of the notorious witch trials of 1692 – even the police cars and firefighter’s uniforms are decorated with witch logos! There is a modern witch community that practices witchcraft and they even have a Bureau for witch education! Tourists flow in the city during the whole month of October, but the greatest crowds gather on Halloween. Salem was once one of the most important ports; built in 1626 by a group of fishermen, Salem got its name by the Hebrew word for peace, ‘shalom’.
Tourism is the backbone of the town’s economy today. Here you will find everything and anything about witches and witchcraft. Witch aficionados can visit the Witch House, which is the only structure in Salem directly tied to the Salem witch trials. There is also the Peabody Essex Museum, which is the oldest continuously operating museum in the USA, with one of the largest collections of Asian art in the country. Salem can be quite amusing during the Halloween season, but don’t underestimate its charm off-season, since this place full of history has something for everyone.
