In the midst of half drunk college pranksters, families on day trips, tourists dressed in their Halloween costume of choice and an assortment of other revelers stands a somber memorial to the victims of the Salem witch trials.
Directly across from shops that hawk kitschy tourists souvenirs and “haunted houses” designed to spook people of all ages, is a memorial that commemorates a dark part of American history. Without this dark time, there would be no kitschy souvenirs or haunted houses.
Dedicated in 1992, the Salem Witch Trials TerCentenary, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, pays tribute to the 20 victims of the hysteria.
Twenty benches, representing each of the 20 victims, stretch out from the stone wall. Each bench or slab has each victim etched into it with the date of their death. Often times, people will leave stones, coins, flowers, notes and other little gifts or mementos behind.
At the entrance on the ground are snippets of the quotes from some of the victims just before their deaths.
Of course, trials has a double meaning and it is a fitting use of the term.
About New England Nomad
Hi I'm Wayne. Welcome to my blog.
I am a true New Englander through and through. I love everything about New England. I especially love discovering new places in New England and sharing my experiences with everyone. I tend to focus on the more unique and lesser known places and things in New England on my blog.
Oh yeah, and I love dogs. I always try to include at least one dog in each of my blog posts.
I discovered my love of photography a couple of years ago. I know, I got a late start. Now, I photograph anything that seems out of the ordinary, interesting, beautiful and/or unique. And I have noticed how every person, place or thing I photograph has a story behind it or him or her. I don't just photograph things or people or animals. I try to get their background, history or as much information as possible to give the subject more context and meaning. It's interesting how one simple photograph can evoke so much.
I am currently using a Nikon D3200 "beginner's camera." Even though there are better cameras on the market, and I will upgrade some time, I love how it functions (usually) and it has served me well.
The great thing about my blog is you don't have to be from New England, or even like New England to like my blog (although I've never met anyone who doesn't). All you have to like is to see and read about new or interesting places and things.
Hopefully, you'll join me on my many adventures in New England!
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New England Nomad 
October 25th, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Taking and break from work; reading this post. It’s very fascinating! I very much enjoy history and am glad passers bring and leave little things for them. Thank you so much for posting AND including pictures. It’s so nice to see images of places that I may not get to see in my lifetime!
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October 25th, 2015 at 9:14 pm
Thank you! It is heartening to see people leave behind gifts and mementos. Many of those people who leave gifts are direct descendents of the accused witches.
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October 25th, 2015 at 9:18 pm
Whoa! That’s incredible! Those were wonderful photographs!
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October 26th, 2015 at 2:14 am
hello new england nomad its dennis the vizsla dog hay dada has just ben reeding an artikul in the noo yorker abowt the salem witch trials and rekognized menny of the nayms on the bentches as peepul wot it menshund!!! i hope peepul no better now then to blaym misfortchoons on witches but i hav a feeling they hav just moovd on to other things to blaym insted!!! ok bye
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October 26th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Great photos. “Giles Corey, pressed to death.” Not to minimize the fates of the other victims, but this is horrifying.
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October 26th, 2015 at 8:15 pm
Thank you. Yes, it is reported it took him days to die. I can’t imagine how someone could torture someone for so long, especially over the allegation of “witchcraft”
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October 26th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Hard to believe that people could be so superstitious and stupid! Or evil. And petty.
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October 26th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Yes, it is awful. It probably had as much to do with personal vendettas as it did with superstitions. Many of the people accused were outcasts or people who may have feuded with their accusers.
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October 26th, 2015 at 11:49 pm
Kind of like people today getting shot for complaining about someone at work or school. Horrible.
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October 26th, 2015 at 9:12 pm
That’s a beautiful memorial to these poor victims who were just a little ‘different’.
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October 27th, 2015 at 2:21 am
Nice post! Thanks for visiting TPJphoto also, btw I am a descendant of one of the Salem victims.
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October 27th, 2015 at 2:31 am
Thank you, TPJ. Which victim are you a descendent of?
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October 27th, 2015 at 11:41 am
I would have to find the old email from a relative. A husband and wife were accused, the husband (great, great, etc) was executed, my great (etc) grandmother released twice. The witch thing was a family joke and tale from the oldsters until someone was actually contacted for family info. Explains some of the family though 😬.
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October 27th, 2015 at 2:55 am
thanks for posting! loved reading and seeing all your pics.
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October 27th, 2015 at 3:02 am
Thank you Becky!
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October 27th, 2015 at 11:16 am
A fascinating post. It’s sad the lengths to which fear and superstition can drive people, especially when personal vendettas are thrown into the mix.
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October 27th, 2015 at 11:42 am
Thank you. Yes, unfortunately we still see this happening today. Fear and ignorance can be a volatile combination.
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October 27th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
thanks for posting this! there should be more such memorials … (I could’nt open the link above?!)
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October 27th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Thank you kaschpar. I will check the link.
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October 27th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
It’s so sad yet so fascinating . This post was such a lovely read, thanks for sharing x
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October 27th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Thank you Apoorva.
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October 27th, 2015 at 10:59 pm
How sad to see these important markers. My relatives and I thought one of our ancestors was involved in the trials, but then we found out that rather than being a victim, he’d sat on the jury. Not a proud moment.
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October 27th, 2015 at 11:11 pm
It would be hard for anyone to not get caught up in the fervor during that time. If one did not vote to convinct, he or she would open themselves up for an accusation of being a witch. That is what makes the trial of Rebecca Nurse so interesting. She was found not guilty by a jury initially. After some pressure was put on them and some other flimsy evidence was revealed, they reversed their decision and she was eventually hanged.
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October 30th, 2015 at 2:39 am
[…] behind the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, is the final resting place for some of the key players of a dark chapter in Salem, and […]
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October 30th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
These are just such fascinating posts and the accompanying pictures are excellent. Thank you so very much.
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November 1st, 2015 at 12:09 am
Thank you, JoHanna!
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November 2nd, 2015 at 1:21 am
As you’ve noted, what’s particularly sobering is that this kind of thing still happens all the time and everywhere. The names and details change, but the fear of Other-ness and the power of misinformation and ignorance remain just as deadly and sorrowful.
A fine documentation, here, of a place that I’m thankful makes the effort to recognize the reality that twenty real human beings were murdered by their fellows, and that history will echo with the repercussions forever: as further witness, the above commenters who are descendants of various parties in the story. But it’s also a beautiful memorial place and installation, and I’m glad to see something thoughtful and lovely done with such respect. Thanks for sharing.
Kathryn
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November 2nd, 2015 at 10:47 am
Yes, it does seem to happen again and again. The names change and the targets of discrimination change but it’s still the same thing that drives it: hate, ignorance and over zealous leaders.
It is good to see they have made such respectful memorials. It is almost like their way of making amends and saying they are sorry. One issue I didn’t raise in the blogs is that some people, often residents of the area, take umbrage to the over commercialization of the area. I do see their points. But, I also think you can be respectful of the history and honor their memories while still enjoying the atmosphere of the area. I think the victims of the hysteria would prefer that we would be able to have some laughs in their old town during our visits.
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November 2nd, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Absolutely. Laughter and a sense of humor (morbid or not!) tend to be signs of healing and health, not to mention a move toward greater tolerance when they are shared rather than aimed *at* anyone, and I can only think that the innocent dead would have preferred healing, health, and tolerance over continuing any of the dark ugliness that killed them!
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November 15th, 2015 at 1:43 am
Love this. I’ve always wanted to visit Salem, and am so fascinated by the history. (History teacher, not Salem-show buff.) I think it was terrible what happened, but a powerful part of history.
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December 1st, 2015 at 4:24 pm
great photos I would love to see the ones with the single rose in black and white
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December 2nd, 2015 at 12:01 am
Thank you. I added one of the black and white photos to the bottom of the post. Good suggestion!
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January 5th, 2016 at 8:24 am
How far is Salem from Boston ? I would like to visit it- such an interesting place and so much history.
It is surprising that there were male witches too and even more surprising that some of them have family in the present times.
Susie
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