Salem Must See Memorials, Statues and Cemeteries.
Fans of the beloved movie “Hocus Pocus” will find a treasure trove of filming locations in Salem, MA. Many iconic scenes were shot around the city, including Max and Dani’s house, located on Ocean Avenue, and the Old Town Hall, where the memorable Halloween party scene took place. You can also visit Pioneer Village, the backdrop for the film’s opening scenes set in the 1600s. Visiting these locations offers a magical experience, bringing the enchanting world of “Hocus Pocus” to life right before your eyes.
Witch Trial Memorial
Located at 24 Liberty Street
This memorial is dedicated to the 20 innocent victims of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Surrounded by three granite walls, you will see the victims’ protest inscribed on the threshold as you enter the memorial. The six locus trees in the middle of the memorial represent the injustice of the trials, as they are the last to flower and the first to lose their leaves every year. Along the stone wall are 20 benches with the names and execution dates of each of the 20 victims.
Proctors Ledge Memorial
Located at 7 Pope Street
This memorial is dedicated to the nineteen victims hanged during the 1692 Salem Witch trials. It sits at the base of Proctor’s Ledge. The location where the executions took place.
The memorial consists of a stone wall with 19 markers bearing the names and dates of their executions. In the center is an Oak tree, which symbolizes endurance and dignity.
Statues
Roger Conant Statue
Though this statue is in front of the Witch Museum, it has nothing to do with the Salem Witch Trials. The statue is of Roger Conant, who founded Salem in 1626.
Conant, his wife, and their first son immigrated to the Plymouth Colony in 1623 aboard the ship “Ann” from England. Finding the strict Puritan way of life uncomfortable, he moved his family to Neumkeag. They lived there for a year, then moved to a fishing settlement in Cape Ann, where he became Governor. After a year, the Colony failed, and many returned to England. Conant moved with the remaining colonist to a nearby area called Neumkeag in the fall of 1626. Their new home would later be called Salem. He passed away on November 19, 1679, at 87.
Bewitched Sculpture
Located in Lappin Park
This sculpture was donated by TV Land in 2005 and is of Elizabeth Montgomery.
Nathaniel Hawthorne Statue
Located at 20 Hawthorn Blvd
Installed in 1925, this statue depicts Hawthorne sitting on a moss-covered rock with a tree stump behind him. Hawthorne is considered the first great romantic novelist of America. He wrote several novels while staying in Salem. Two of those novels were The House of Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter.
Cemeteries
The Old Burial Point Cemetery
Located at 51 Charter Street
This cemetery was established in 1637 and is one of the oldest in the US. Several people with ties to the Salem Witch Trials are buried here.
Judge John Hathorne and Bartholomew Gedney. Reverend Nicholas Noyes was the assistant minister during the witch trials. Samuel Shattuck Jr. claimed to have been bewitched by Bridget Bishop and gave testimony against her. You will also find the second wife of Giles Corey and other notable Salem residents.
Broad Street Cemetery
Located at 5 Broad Street
This is the second oldest cemetery in Salem. Established in 1655, you will find the graves of Judge Jonathan Corwin and Sheriff George Corwin here.
St. Peter's Church Cemetery
Located at 24 St. Peter Street
The Land this Church was built on was donated by Philip English. English was the wealthiest Merchant in Salem and was accused of witchcraft during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. He was of Anglican faith, and his first language was French. He avoided paying his fair share of taxes, was quick to sue, and represented a more cosmopolitan lifestyle. Needless to say, his Puritan neighbors did not like him. English and his wife escaped to New York with the help of two Boston reverends. When he returned in 1693, he found his belongings had been confiscated by Sheriff Corwin. He died in 1736 at the age of 85, and he is buried in the Church Yard.
Howard Street Cemetery
Located at 29 Howard Street next to the Old Salem Jail
Before there was a cemetery here, it was an open field. On September 19, 1692, Giles Corey was believed to have been pressed to death at this location. In 1801 the cemetery was established, and the oldest stone is that of Second Mate Benjamin Ropes. He was crushed to death while launching the fore-topmast of the ship Belisarius. It is also the resting place of several Revolutionary War soldiers.