Audio Guide: Salem Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Salem

Salem may be known as the ‘Witch City,’ but witches are only one chapter of its extraordinary story.”

Located on Massachusetts Bay, Salem is one of New England’s most historic and atmospheric cities, shaped by Indigenous heritage, colonial settlement, maritime trade, literature, and the infamous events of 1692. Long before the arrival of English settlers, the area was inhabited by Indigenous peoples. The Massachusett people knew the site as Naumkeag, an Algonquian name meaning “Fishing Place.” In 1626, Roger Conant established an English settlement here, and by 1630 it had been renamed Salem, traditionally associated with the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace.”

Salem grew from a small fishing and trading settlement into an important maritime center. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, its ships sailed to ports around the world, bringing considerable wealth to the city. The prosperity of that era can still be seen in Salem’s elegant historic houses, warehouses, and commercial buildings. But in 1692, Salem entered a much darker chapter when accusations of witchcraft triggered a series of trials that resulted in the execution of 20 people. Today, the city remembers these events through museums, memorials, and preserved historic sites.

A walk through Salem reveals many different sides of the city. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site recalls its seafaring past, while the Peabody Essex Museum explores the art and culture of New England and beyond. The atmospheric streets evoke the world of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Salem’s famous literary son, while the Salem Witch Trials Memorial provides a quiet place to reflect on the events that forever shaped the city’s reputation.

So, while Salem may have earned its nickname as the “Witch City,” look beyond the legends, and you will discover a place shaped by ships, merchants, writers, architecture, and centuries of human stories. Ready to discover the many faces of Salem?