The site of the Salem witch trials holds great historical significance. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, it was the backdrop of a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in the late 17th century. The trials took place between February 1692 and May 1693 and resulted in the execution of 20 people. The Salem witch trials were fueled by fear, paranoia, and religious extremism. Accusations of witchcraft were often based on speculative evidence and testimonies from witnesses who claimed to have been afflicted by the accused. The trials resulted in the deaths of 19 people who were hanged and one who was pressed to death.
Descendant of witchcraft accuser Ann Putnam, holding a flower, 1949. Putnam was Nurse’s original accuser. She later recounted her accusations against Nurse in 1706. (Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
The court convened here for the trials of Bridget Bishop June 2 ; Sarah Good, Susannah Martin, Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth How, and Sarah Wildes around June 28 ; Martha Carrier, John and Elizabeth Proctor, John Willard, George Jacobs, and George Burroughs August 2-5 ; Martha Corey, Mary Easty, Alice Parker, Mary Parker, Ann Pudeator, Dorcas Hoar, and Mary Bradbury week of September 2 ; and Wilmott Redd, Samuel Wardwell, and Margaret Scott September 13. Years before her ghostly 1957 series and over 250 years after the Salem Witch-trials of 1692 Leen visited Salem, Massachusetts to reexamine the horrific events in Salem.
The trials resulted in the deaths of 19 people who were hanged and one who was pressed to death. The site continues to attract visitors from around the world who seek to learn about this dark chapter in American history. The main location to explore is the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, dedicated to the victims of the trials.
Revisiting the Sites of the Salem Witch Trials
Salem’s “Witch House” with actors dressed in Puritan clothing for colonial reenactments, 1949.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Written By: Alexa Jade Frankelis
LIFE Photographer Nina Leen’s wide breadth of work ranged from fashion to documentary to animal portraiture. With an expansive portfolio, it comes as no surprise that she did not shy away from the macabre. For example, Leen had some of this work featured in a spread for an October 1957 issue of LIFE that covered America’s most famous ghost stories.
Years before her ghostly 1957 series—and over 250 years after the Salem Witch-trials of 1692—Leen visited Salem, Massachusetts to reexamine the horrific events in Salem. For the September 26, 1949 LIFE issue, Leen and the author Marion L. Starkey visited historic sites where the witch trials took place. They followed the narrative of Starkey’s new book at the time, The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials.
Author, Marion L. Starkey, holding a cat, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
Tree at the top of Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
In her book, Starkey recounts the trials from a modern psychological perspective, coming to the conclusion that “boredom, drudgery, and fear of Hell” among the teenage accusers were to blame for the nineteen executions that resulted from the trials.
Leen and Starkey particularly followed the story of the seventy-one year old victim, Rebecca Nurse, who was hanged at Gallows Hill with four others on July 19, 1692. In the above image, Leen captures the ominous tree, protruding from the landscape on a gray New England day. In the 1940s, this is where historians believed the executions took place. More recent research has determined that the hangings actually took place at Proctor’s Ledge, which is located between modern-day Proctor Street and Pope Street in Salem, Massachusetts.
Salem’s “Witch House” with actors dressed in Puritan clothing for colonial reenactments, 1949.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Descendant of witchcraft accuser Ann Putnam, holding a flower, 1949. Putnam was Nurse’s original accuser. She later recounted her accusations against Nurse in 1706.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Sewing pins that were used as “evidence” in Nurse’s trial. During the witch-trials, it was reported that they were used by “witches” to torture their victims.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Another victim of the witch trials was Tituba, an enslaved woman that worked for the Reverend Samuel Parris’ household. The image below is a sign that marks the site of “…where the young girls congregated to hear weird stories told by Tituba The West Indian Servant”.
Plaque establishing the site of the Reverend Samuel Parris’ home.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
Blurred exposure of a woman sitting by the window, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
The grave site of John Hathorne, 1949. Hathorne was the magistrate of Salem in the 1600s and a leading judge in the witch-trails.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
70 Washington St, Salem, MA 01970
LIFE Photographer Nina Leen’s wide breadth of work ranged from fashion to documentary to animal portraiture. With an expansive portfolio, it comes as no surprise that she did not shy away from the macabre. For example, Leen had some of this work featured in a spread for an October 1957 issue of LIFE that covered America’s most famous ghost stories.
Years before her ghostly 1957 series—and over 250 years after the Salem Witch-trials of 1692—Leen visited Salem, Massachusetts to reexamine the horrific events in Salem. For the September 26, 1949 LIFE issue, Leen and the author Marion L. Starkey visited historic sites where the witch trials took place. They followed the narrative of Starkey’s new book at the time, The Devil in Massachusetts: A Modern Enquiry into the Salem Witch Trials.
Author, Marion L. Starkey, holding a cat, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
Tree at the top of Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
In her book, Starkey recounts the trials from a modern psychological perspective, coming to the conclusion that “boredom, drudgery, and fear of Hell” among the teenage accusers were to blame for the nineteen executions that resulted from the trials.
Leen and Starkey particularly followed the story of the seventy-one year old victim, Rebecca Nurse, who was hanged at Gallows Hill with four others on July 19, 1692. In the above image, Leen captures the ominous tree, protruding from the landscape on a gray New England day. In the 1940s, this is where historians believed the executions took place. More recent research has determined that the hangings actually took place at Proctor’s Ledge, which is located between modern-day Proctor Street and Pope Street in Salem, Massachusetts.
Salem’s “Witch House” with actors dressed in Puritan clothing for colonial reenactments, 1949.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Descendant of witchcraft accuser Ann Putnam, holding a flower, 1949. Putnam was Nurse’s original accuser. She later recounted her accusations against Nurse in 1706.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Sewing pins that were used as “evidence” in Nurse’s trial. During the witch-trials, it was reported that they were used by “witches” to torture their victims.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
Another victim of the witch trials was Tituba, an enslaved woman that worked for the Reverend Samuel Parris’ household. The image below is a sign that marks the site of “…where the young girls congregated to hear weird stories told by Tituba The West Indian Servant”.
Plaque establishing the site of the Reverend Samuel Parris’ home.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
Blurred exposure of a woman sitting by the window, 1949.
(Photo by Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection © Meredith Corporation)
The grave site of John Hathorne, 1949. Hathorne was the magistrate of Salem in the 1600s and a leading judge in the witch-trails.
(Nina Leen/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock)
The memorial, designed by architect James Cutler, features 20 stone benches arranged in a semi-circle, each representing a victim. Visitors can pay their respects and reflect on the injustice faced by those accused. In addition to the memorial, there are several historic sites in Salem associated with the trials. The most well-known is the Witch House, the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who was involved in the trials. The house has been preserved and is now a museum where visitors can learn more about the events and daily life during that time. The site of the Salem witch trials serves as a reminder of the dangers of hysteria and intolerance. It is a place where visitors can reflect on the injustices committed and the importance of upholding justice, fairness, and the protection of individual rights. Through learning about this dark period in history, we are reminded of the consequences of unchecked fear and the importance of valuing reason and evidence..
Reviews for "Salem's Witch Trials: A Look into the Origins of Modern Persecution"
- JohnDoe - 2/5 - The site of the Salem witch trials was quite underwhelming. There was little to no information available to explain the significance of the location. We walked around aimlessly trying to piece together the history, but it was difficult without any proper signage or explanations. It seemed like a missed opportunity to educate visitors about such a dark period in American history.
- JaneSmith - 1/5 - I was very disappointed with the site of the Salem witch trials. It felt like a purely tourist attraction, lacking any real historical context. The exhibits were cheesy and seemed more focused on selling souvenirs than providing educational information. I would not recommend this site for anyone who is genuinely interested in learning about the trials and their impact.
- Traveler23 - 2/5 - The site of the Salem witch trials was rather disappointing. The lack of organization and upkeep made it difficult to grasp the significance of the location. The exhibits were outdated and some were even falling apart. I expected more from a site with such historical importance. It's a shame that it didn't live up to its potential.