Guided Salem Witch Trials & Hammond Castle Tour
Pair an oceanfront castle with Salem's true 1692 story
Duration
7 hours
Ideal For
Up to 9 people
Includes
Castle admission, private vehicle
Highlights
Explore an oceanfront medieval-style castle in Gloucester, then uncover the history behind Salem's Witch Trials on a private day trip. Shape the experience around your group's interests as you travel between Massachusetts' North Shore landmarks.
- Discover Hammond Castle's 8,000-pipe organ and secret passages
- Learn why the 1692 hysteria spread and why no victims were burned
- Separate Salem Witch Trials history from Hollywood stories
- Tailor the private day to the history and sights that interest your group
Itinerary
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60 min - Pick Up and Transfer to Hammond Castle Museum Your guide will pick you up in a comfortable minivan and drive you out to Hammond Castle Museum!
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75 min - Hammond Castle Museum Enjoy a guided tour, learning about the origin and history behind the Castle. You will then have time to explore the rest of the grounds and take photos!
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30 min - Transfer to Salem Drive to Salem for lunch and the afternoon exploration!
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60 min - Break Enjoy an hour for lunch at one of Salem's many excellent restaurants (cost not included)!
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15 min - East India Square Learn about Salem's maritime past and how it became one of the richest cities in America.
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20 min - Salem Common See the heart of historical Salem and learn about the Puritans who settled the town.
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25 min - Salem Witch Trials Memorial Visit the Witch Trials Memorial and learn what really happened in Salem in 1692.
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15 min - Old Burying Point Cemetery See the oldest cemetery in Salem, with graves going back to the Salem Witch Trials.
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10 min - Houdini Way Learn about Harry Houdini's publicized escape from Salem's jail.
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10 min - Bewitched Statue Learn how the famous show Bewitched put Salem on the tourism map!
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20 min - The Witch House The last standing home with direct ties to the 1692 trials. Learn of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who lived here and was one of the examiners of accused "witches", and of his family's connection to Giles Corey's execution, which gave rise to the legendary Corwin Curse.
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15 min - Ropes Mansion & Garden This 1727 Georgian mansion hides a dark past — two members of the Ropes family died tragically here, and locals say their ghosts still roam the property. You may also recognize it as Allison's house from Hocus Pocus.
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15 min - Chestnut Street District Walk Salem's most prestigious street, where sea captains built grand mansions from fortunes earned in the East India spice trade. These homes tell the story of how Salem rivaled Boston as New England's wealthiest port.
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5 min - Hamilton Hall Step up to America's first "red carpet" at this Federal-style hall named for the founding father. Built in 1805, it was the social center of Salem's merchant elite — and it's still used for events today.
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15 min - Proctor's Ledge Memorial See the location where the witches were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials.
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30 min - Return to Boston & Drop Off Your guide will drop you off back at your hotel, cruise ship, or airport terminal!
What's Included
- Hammond Castle Museum admission
- Private vehicle transportation
- Guided castle tour
Important details
- Children require a proper car seat until age 8 or 57 inches tall; car seats are not provided
- Requires approximately 3.5 hours of walking, stairs, uneven stone floors, and narrow passages
- Wheelchairs and strollers cannot be accommodated at Hammond Castle Museum
- Expect the tour to run rain or shine unless a weather emergency is declared
- Luggage space is not included in vehicle capacity
- Available only when Hammond Castle Museum is open, typically April through December, with limited winter availability; unavailable in October
Cancellation Policy
Full refund when you cancel at least 14 days before your tour. 50% refund when you cancel at least 7 days before your tour. No refund within 7 days.
Product ID: T5TGQT
FAQs
Bring a proper car seat if your child is under 8 years old or under 57 inches tall, as required by Massachusetts law. Car seats are not provided, and no refunds are given day-of if you don’t have proper seating.
No. Hammond Castle has many stairs (some worn and uneven), and there is no elevator or escalator. This day trip isn’t suitable if you need walking assistance on stairs or unstable ground beyond the built-in banisters.
No. Gratuity isn’t included; the industry standard is $10–20 per hour.
Related locations
Hammond Castle Museum
Admission includedStanding on a rocky promontory above the Atlantic, Hammond Castle Museum draws you into a world that feels centuries removed from the Massachusetts shoreline. The stone walls, Gothic arches, and interior courtyard of Hammond Castle Museum evoke a European fortress, yet this remarkable structure was purpose-built in the late 1920s by inventor John Hays Hammond Jr. as both a private residence and a showcase for his wide-ranging collections.
