Salem at 400 PEMcast

October 15, 2026

Four hundred years is not old for most global cities. Still, after four centuries of European settlement (and several hundred years prior to that as a gathering place for Native American communities), Salem looks at the United States celebrating its 250th and says, “You’ve still got some growing to do.”

In this two-part episode, the PEMcast looks at Salem’s 400+ years of history through fashion. It’s well known that Salem has a reputation for costuming. With all the goth, punk, cultural, historical, mystical and just plain individual looks on the street, today’s downtown Salem is something of a runway.

https://www.pem.org/pemcast/pemcast-43-salem-at-400-part1

This episode of the PEMcast explores how the Peabody Essex Museum is celebrating Salem 400+ through fashion.

https://www.pem.org/pemcast/pemcast-43-salem-at-400-part-2

Continuing our celebration of Salem’s first 400 years. Take a trip to Salem’s new sister city. Meet Salem’s first English settler and the Indigenous community who were already there.