Salem, Massachusetts

[Gusterfell]

I spent the day in Salem, MA, this past Tuesday, and found it to be quite a lovely city. Here are some pics:

Not technically salem just yet, but this is the lighthouse in the adjoining town of Marblehead:

The view across Marblehead Harbor from the lighthouse:

Looking southwest toward the Boston skyline(maybe 15 miles away):

Looking east from the garage in downtown Salem:

Looking west from the same garage:

Gardner-Pingree House (right, 1804), and Plummer Hall (1856)

The Andrew Safford House (1819) was said to be the most expensive house in the US to that date:

Garden house behind the Safford House:

A wonderful collection of Federal period homes fronting Salem Common:

The same houses, this time from across the Common:

The Salem Witch Museum sits in a corner of the Common. The lamppost in the foreground has apparently become an impromptu place for visitors to leave their stickers after their tour:

Facade of the Peabody Essex Museum:

One of the museum's star attractions is this 18th century house from Anhui Province, China. It was disassembled, moved, and rebuilt here a few years ago:

The intersection of Federal and Washington Streets seems to be the city's hub of civic services and institutions. In the foreground is Tabernacle Congregational Church (1924):

I'm not sure what this 1841 building is used for, but it is attached to the Salem Superior Court building:

The Superior Court:

Registry of Deeds and Probate Court:

A fountain on Essex Street, west of downtown:

To be continued shortly...

[Gusterfell]

The garden of the Ropes Mansion (1727):

First Unitarian Church (1836):

Witch House (Jonathan Corwin House, before 1675). The home of one of the judges in the witchcraft trials, this is the only building still standing with direct ties to the trials:

The Salem Inn (1834):

Old Town Hall (late 1700s):

Atrium of the Peabody Essex Museum:

East India Marine Hall (1824) is used as gallery space by the Peabody Essex Museum:

Patriotic reflections on a Hawthorne Blvd. window:

Immaculate Conception Church (1826). This reminded me of the late Downcity Diner building in Providence, which burned earlier this year. The Providence building was once a church, built in about the same period:

I don't know what this complex is, but it is a dominant sight on the harborfront:

The Custom House (right, 1819) housed the US Customs Service operations in the Port of Salem. At left is a large house from the same period:

The Friendship of Salem is a replica of a 1797 merchant ship:

The House of Seven Gables (Turner-Ingersoll House, 1668), made famous by the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel of the same name:

Salem Harbor Lighthouse:

Finally, the harbor quietly lapping on the 18th century sea wall:

[JJK5]

Very nice pics, thanks for these!

[suburban george3]

Man, awesome pics!! I luv how the towns in Mass. can keep their old historical buildings as integral parts of their modern life! Thanks for posting these!!

[tombarnes]

Excellent shots of Salem. I was last there a couple of years ago. What a handsome little city. The collections at the Peabody-Essex Museum are outstanding.

[Lone Ranger]

Great pictures, very interesting city. Providence meets Newport ...

[MadVlad]

The House of Seven Gables is awesome. When in Salem, take the tour, you get to go through all the secret doors and stairwells that they hid slaves in....

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I love Northeastern Cities.... they have so much history you dont find in Northwestern Cities!