The Salem Witch Memorial is a dedicated monument located in Salem, Massachusetts, USA. It serves as a remembrance of the infamous Salem Witch Trials that occurred in the late 17th century. The memorial was constructed in 1992 and was designed by James Cutler. It consists of a semi-circular stone wall with a pathway leading to a central area where there are 20 granite benches, each engraved with the name of a person who was accused and executed during the witch trials. The names include both men and women who were wrongfully accused of practicing witchcraft. The Salem Witch Trials were a dark period in American history when paranoia and hysteria led to the unjust persecution and execution of innocent people.
It was during the exceedingly hot summer of 1692 when Puritan judges in Salem, an English settlement in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, condemned twenty people of witchcraft and publicly executed them. Now, 330 years later, visitors to this seaside city will find a simple, peaceful memorial next to an aged colonial graveyard and hear, in the near distance, the occasional sound of church bells. Entering a rectangular space bordered by rough stone walls and shaded by towering locust trees, one crosses a wide threshold inscribed with the words of the victims, their protestations of innocence and pleas to God clipped by the memorial walls, symbolizing the community’s indifference to their plight. Twenty granite benches jut from the walls, each bearing the name of a person unjustly accused and killed. Erected in 1992, this was Salem’s first public monument to those tragic events. As we mark the memorial’s thirtieth anniversary, it is perhaps more important than ever to remember the lessons of these injustices. Salem’s witch trials were the largest and deadliest in North American history. Over the course of a year and a half, nineteen people were hanged and one man was brutally tortured to death. Though popularly referred to as “the Salem witch trials,” accusations had spread throughout Essex County and beyond. In total, between 150 and 200 people were imprisoned, ranging in age from four to eighty-one years old. At least five died in jail, including the infant daughter of convicted Sarah Good.
At the rear of the Memorial, visitors view the tombstones of the adjacent 17th century Charter Street Burying Point, a reminder of all who stood in mute witness to the tragedy. At the rear of the Memorial, visitors view the tombstones of the adjacent 17th century Charter Street Burying Point, a reminder of all who stood in mute witness to the tragedy.
The Salem Witch Trials were a dark period in American history when paranoia and hysteria led to the unjust persecution and execution of innocent people. The trials began in 1692 when several young girls claimed to be possessed by witches. This sparked a wave of accusations, and soon many individuals from the Salem community were accused of practicing witchcraft.
Salem Witch Trials Memorial
A trip to Salem, Massachusetts without a visit to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial would be sadly incomplete. It is a Must See Gem & a Top 5 Salem Witch Trials Sites , located conveniently downtown. The Memorial consists of 2 parallel, low, stone walls, lined with benches engraved with the names of the 20 victims executed during the 1692 Witch Trials Executions. Along with the names are their execution/ death dates & form of execution- 19 were hanged & 1 was “pressed”, slowly crushed to death by stones. Spread out, each bench bearing a separate name makes you realize how many 20 people really are. It does not include the 5 names of those who died in jail, 4 awaiting trial or execution and a newborn baby, born in jail to a mother (along with a 4 year old sister) accused as ‘witches’. Background info on each of the 25 who paid with their lives is discussed in my Salem Witch Trial Victims post . The Salem Witch Trials Memorial was built & dedicated in August 1992, the 300th Anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials & Executions. A peaceful little nook in a park-like setting, it maintains a quiet, somber presence despite being carved into the heart of downtown. Between the parallel, bench-lined walls standing tall guard are Black Locust trees. Calmly watching over, they are the very type of trees it is believed that the accused were hanged from.
The entrance stones of the walkway are inscribed with the pleas of the accused: ‘Oh Lord! Help Me! God knows I am Innocent! Wholly Innocent of such Wickedness!’ – ‘I would confess, I would save my life… I do not plead guilty.’ – ‘I can deny it to my dying day.’… It would be easy to miss, driving by, or even walking, if you didn’t pay attention. It is quiet, understated & simple. Not touristy, not showy, just reverent remembrance of the innocents & their sacrifice. Reading the quotes, & their names, and the jarring end, “Hanged” is an emotional experience. You can feel the fear and desperation in their pleas. You can’t help but feel a growing, helpless panic as you read them. Knowing their fate. You feel a desperate hunger for the opportunity to go back and instill modern logic & reason, and bring the judges, the accusers, the witnesses to their senses. Sick in your gut for their terror & their pain & the tragedy, but also because you imagine with a shiver had it been you. Their pain is no more, cut short 300 years ago, but we feel its stain, still today. Mourning these souls that I never knew makes me ever grateful for my minor difficulties in this world today. I am blessed. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is Free & always open. It’s between Charter & Derby Streets, behind the Peabody Essex Museum.
Since the only known remains & exact location of an executed Salem Witch Trial victim is at the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, nearby, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial serves as a grave marker for mourners to show their respects for all the executed. The remains of the others have been lost to history, taken away in the night by loved ones and buried in secret, except Giles Corey. His body is buried where he was tortured to death, somewhere among what is now the Howard Street Cemetery visited with this site in my Salem Witch Trial Sites- Itinerary Part C . The actual site of the hangings has been rediscovered in recent years. It has a small memorial and is also visited in my Salem in a Day Part C Itinerary . Nearby Danvers (Salem Village & start of the 1692 Witch Hysteria) has an equally moving & beautiful Memorial to the Witch Trial Victims that I discuss in my post Salem Part A.
One of the Salem Witch Trial Memorial walls lines the Old Burying Point Cemetery , c 1637, aka Charter St. Cemetery. Just yards away from the Memorial to those executed, at least 2 of the 1692 Witchcraft ‘Judges’, John Hathorne & Bartholomew Gedney now lie. Others who were accused (& not executed), as well as family members of the victims, & some who even testified against them rest here, too.
The Cemetery also includes a Mayflower passenger, the only one anywhere that you can visit with the original gravestone at the site where they were buried. Captain Richard More was laid to rest here in the late 1600s. Richard had a very interesting tale of his own. He was not a Pilgrim, himself (which was a religious distinction, though “pilgrim” & wrong year of death was added centuries later to his headstone). Though, he was shipped over with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower at 6 years old. Without their parents, he made the journey along with 3 little siblings, ages 4- 8. All of the siblings died that 1st winter. He would have been at the 1st Thanksgiving & he grew up in Plymouth colony, before moving in his adulthood to Salem. He survived the 1692 witch trials & was buried there a few years after. He may have been the oldest surviving male and only missed being the very last living Mayflower passenger by just a few years.
It is the 2nd oldest cemetery in the U.S. The oldest is in Duxbury, also in Massachusetts, & is the 8th oldest maintained cemetery in the world. The Cemetery is small, Free, and open Dawn to Dusk, year round.
- See our Plymouth, Mass Itinerary & Posts to Explore the Mayflower Pilgrims, the 1st Thanksgiving & Plimoth colony:
But for much of history, the site sat quietly obscured by woods and buildings. A leather tannery and railroad operated nearby, and in recent years, houses surrounded it. And for O’Connor, Benedict and much of Salem, that history has faded despite the town’s outsized reputation.
The lack of evidence and fair trials resulted in the execution of 20 individuals, while many others were imprisoned and subjected to harsh treatment. The Salem Witch Memorial serves as a solemn and emotional reminder of the tragic events that unfolded during the witch trials. The semi-circular design of the memorial creates a sense of unity and allows visitors to reflect on the personal stories of each individual engraved on the benches. It provides a space for quiet contemplation and remembrance. The memorial also serves as a symbol of the importance of learning from history and ensuring that such injustices are not repeated. It encourages visitors to reflect on the dangers of mob mentality, prejudice, and fear, which were the driving forces behind the witch trials. In addition to the Salem Witch Memorial, Salem has several other attractions related to the witch trials, including the Witch Trials Memorial and the Salem Witch Museum. These sites serve as educational resources, providing insights into the social and cultural context of the trials. Overall, the Salem Witch Memorial stands as a striking testimony to the tragic events of the Salem Witch Trials. It offers visitors an opportunity to pay respects to the victims and serves as a reminder of the importance of justice, tolerance, and respect for human rights in society..
Reviews for "Salem Witch Memorial: Remembering the Victims of Historical Hysteria"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed by the Salem Witch Memorial. I thought it would be an informative and engaging experience, but it fell flat for me. The memorial itself is quite small and underwhelming, with just a few stone benches and plaques. The information provided could have been presented in a much more engaging way, perhaps through interactive exhibits or audio guides. Overall, it just didn't meet my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a meaningful experience.
2. Sarah - 1/5 stars - The Salem Witch Memorial was a huge letdown for me. I was expecting a powerful and moving tribute to the victims of the witch trials, but what I found was a small and uninspiring space. The memorial lacks any sense of atmosphere or emotion, with just some stone benches and plaques containing names. There was no additional information provided to give context or tell the stories of those who were accused and executed. It felt more like a generic park than a memorial. I would advise visitors to skip this attraction.
3. Robert - 2/5 stars - I found the Salem Witch Memorial to be quite underwhelming. The design and layout of the memorial were uninspiring, with just rows of simple stone benches that didn't convey the gravity of the events that occurred. The information provided was limited, and I felt like I didn't gain a deeper understanding of the witch trials. Additionally, the memorial lacks any sort of interactive elements or audio guides to enhance the visitor experience. Overall, I was disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 3/5 stars - While I appreciate the intention behind the Salem Witch Memorial, I found it to be a rather underwhelming experience. The memorial's design and layout were quite basic, with little to no additional information provided to educate visitors about the witch trials. I felt like the memorial missed an opportunity to create a more immersive and impactful experience. However, I do recognize the importance of remembering and honoring the victims of the witch trials, so I gave it an average rating.