Christmas In Salem – Boughs And Blossoms – 18 Broad St – The Pickering House (Salem, MA)

Date Of Visit: December 6, 2025

Location: 18 Broad St, Salem, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)

Universally Accessible: No

Cost: $40 per ticket ($50 if you purchase day of tour tickets)

Parking: There are several parking garages in Salem, as well as metered on street parking.

Summary: The Pickering House is both the biggest and perhaps most impressive homes on the tour!

The Pickering House was built in 1660 by John Pickering. From its construction until 1998, ten generations of the Pickering family lived in the home. Since 1998, it has continuously occupied by a caretaker family, making it the oldest continuously inhabited house in the United States. Over the centuries, the home has hosted numerous visitors including George Washington who is said to have dines at the very same table that is still in the house. The original portion of the home – the front living room – retains its exposed beams from 1660. Additional sections were added over time, with the most recent major renovation, the kitchen, completed in 1911, The exterior, a Gothic Revival Influence, was chosen by John Pickering VI to mirror European architectural trends during his time at the residence.

The most impressive building, at least from its exterior, the Pickering House is also the oldest home on the tour.

One of the features of the home that caught my attention was the chimney which is a group of flues from several chimneys.. You can see the chimney in the left of the photo below.

There is a lot of history inside the Pickering House. For instance, the home still has the original wallpaper.

And this couch was a gift from Eleanor Roosevelt.

There were pretty decorations and furniture throughout the home.

To keep the large home warm, this fireplace was said to have been much bigger. The fireplace was originally from doorway to doorway. It was downsized during renovations.

Just like most historic homes in Massachusetts, and New England for that matter, George Washington slept in this home. It’s amazing how this rumor or legend has become a claim to fame for so many homes and inns. Legend has it George Washington slept in one of the second floor bedrooms. It is said that Washington stopped by the Pickering house and tied his horse to an old locust tree in the front yard when he visited Colonel Pickering in 1789. But, whether he slept there is still a bit of a mystery. Everywhere I looked for information to support this claim either didn’t mention anything to support it or used hedge words like “rumored” or “legend has it.” In any event, that’s their story and their sticking to it.

There also musicians playing Christmas music in one of the dining rooms. I could have stayed all day and listened to them.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Pickering House also had a barn that was lit up and decorated for the holiday season. It was a festive way to end the tour of the home.