Learn Salem’s History
This non-comprehensive, ever evolving project was completed in 2023 by a team of professional historical researchers with deep knowledge of Salem’s history, in collaboration with the National Park Service. It serves as a starting point into Salem’s history and encouragement to explore our rich past. History is always evolving; we learn more daily about Salem and its stories, and we are Still Making History!
1600s
10,000 years ago
The Arrival of Indigenous People in New England
The end of the last ice age, and the arrival of the Indigenous people in New England.
Sometime 12,000 to 9,000 years ago, the first humans entered the land around Salem, as the glaciers receded at the end of the last ice age. These people were the ancestors of present-day Indigenous people. They produced sharp spear points from stone and hunted caribou. One of the largest archeological sites in North America, Bull Brook in nearby Ipswich, was inhabited by groups of paleo-Indians around 11,000 years ago.
1614
John Smith's Voyage
John Smith surveys the coast of New England.
1616
The Great Plague
The Great Plague of smallpox scourges the Indigenous population, killing approximately 90% of the Massachusett.
1619
The Death of Nanepashemet
The Death of Nanepashemet occurs, sachem of the Pawtucket Confederation.
1626
The Arrival of Roger Conant
Roger Conant arrives, settling what would become Salem.
1628
The Arrival of Governor John Endicott
With the arrival of Governor John Endicott of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the settlement takes the name of Salem.
1628
Trask's Mill Built
William Trask built a mill (“Trask’s Mill”) for grinding grain on the North River.
1629
Salem's First Church
The First Church of Salem is organized.
1629
Stranded on Misery Island
Robert Moulton, an early shipbuilder, is stranded on Misery Island for three days.
1629
The First Brick Kiln in New England
Thomas Trusler sets up a brick kiln on the North River, the first in New England.
1629
Salem's First Fort Built
The First Fort is built in Salem.
1630
Trading Post Established
Four Salem men, including Roger Conant, established a trading post for beaver furs in Maine.
1630
The Arrival of Governor John Winthrop
Governor John Winthrop arrives on the Arbella with his fleet of Puritan migrants, including poet Anne Bradstreet.
1632
General Court Pays a Bounty
General Court pays a bounty to Richard Waterman for killing a wolf in Salem.
1633
Wenepoykin Leads the Pawtucket Band of the Massachusett
A further smallpox plague strikes the Massachusett. Wenepoykin survives, disfigured by the disease, and leads the Pawtucket Band of the Massachusett after the death of his two brothers.
1634
Endicott Cuts Out the Red Cross
Endicott cuts the Red Cross out of the English ensign.
1635
The First Ropewalk
The first ropewalk in America began near Collins Cove.
1635
Minister Roger Williams Escapes Salem
Minister Roger Williams escaped Salem and founded the colony of Rhode Island after he was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
1635
The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635
The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 is the largest in the recorded history of New England.
1635
The Arrival of Minister Hugh Peter
Minister Hugh Peter arrives in Salem, and in 1641 he returns to England and is killed as a regicide.
1637
Anne Hutchinson's Followers are Disarmed
Five Salem followers of Anne Hutchinson are disarmed and several leave the colony.
1637
The First Muster
The First Muster of the East Regiment.
1637
The First Burial in the Old Burying Point Cemetery
The first burial occurred in the Old Burying Point Cemetery, now Charter Street Cemetery.
1638
The Desire
The Desire, captained by William Peirce, begins the American trade of enslaved people.
1638
Dorothy Talbye Brought to Trial
Dorothy Talbye is tried for infanticide.
1643
Fort Established at Winter Island
A fort was established at Winter Island, an area used continuously as a military installation until 1971.
1658
Quakers Brought to Trial
The Quakers are brought to trial in Salem for disorderly conduct: Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, Josiah Southwick, Samuel Shattuck, Samuel Gaskin, and Joseph Buffum.
1660
The Pickering House Built
John Pickering builds The Pickering House, the oldest house still standing in Salem.
1665
The Arrival of Philip English
Jersey-born merchant Philip English arrives in Salem.
1668
The House of the Seven Gables Built
John Turner builds The House of the Seven Gables.
1668
Beverly Becomes Independent from Salem
The neighboring town of Beverly achieves its independence from Salem.
1673
A Second Meeting House (and More) Constructed
The wood from Salem’s first meeting house is used to construct a second meeting house, a watch house, a townhouse, and a school. Daniel Epes is the first schoolmaster.
1673
Doraty Cromwell Buried
Doraty Cromwell, whose headstone is the oldest surviving in Salem, is buried in the Old Burying Ground.
1675-1678
Salem Militia Fights in King Philip's War
The Salem militia company fought in King Philip’s War, one of the bloodiest wars in American history, and erected a palisade along the western wall of the town.
1678
Bakers Island
Bakers Island is leased to John Turner.
1679
The First African-American Birth Recorded
Joseph Read, Jr., the first African-American birth recorded in the Vital Records of Salem.
1679
Simon Bradstreet Becomes Governor
Salem resident, Simon Bradstreet, becomes governor.
1688
The Friends Meeting House Built
Thomas Maule builds the Friends Meeting House.
1687
Quonopohit Deeds Salem
Quonopohit, a sachem of the Massachusett, deeds Salem to the English.
1688-1697
King William's War
King William’s War rages across New England, Salem ships are drafted by William Phips for his expedition.
1692
The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witchcraft Trials begin.
1696
Thomas Maule Acquitted
Thomas Maule is acquitted of blasphemy of the publication of Truth Held Forth and Maintained.
1700s
1700
The Arrival of John Cabot
John Cabot arrives from Jersey in Salem, beginning an American dynasty.
1702-1713
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne’s War- many Salem men are involved in the fighting.
1703
Captain John Quelch Pirates
Captain John Quelch pirates Portuguese ships.
1708
The First Known Brick House Built
George Cabot of Boston, builds the first known brick house in Salem at the corner of Essex and Crombie streets, for merchant Benjamin Marston.
1718
The East Church of Salem Founded
The East Church of Salem is founded.
1719
Salem's First Almshouse Constructed
Salem’s first almshouse was constructed on Broad Street adjacent to Broad Street Cemetery.
1727-1729
The Ropes Mansion Built
The Georgian-style Ropes Mansion is built in Salem.
1733
Salem's First Anglican Church
St. Peter’s Church, the first Anglican church in Salem, is founded.
1741
Negro Election Day
The first recorded Negro Election Day.
1745
Timothy Pickering Born
The soldier and politician Timothy Pickering is born.
1747
The Salem Pest House Opens
The Salem Pest House for infectious diseases opened on Collins Cove.
1757
Danvers Becomes Independent
Danvers achieves its independence from Salem.
1757
Samuel McIntire Born
Architect Samuel McIntire is born.
1762
The Derby House Built
The Derby House is built, the oldest surviving brick house in Salem.
1762
Elizabeth Elkins Sanders Born
Indigenous rights advocate Elizabeth Elkins Sanders is born.
1766
Salem Marine Society
The Salem Marine Society is established.
1766
John and Abigail Adams Visit
John and Abigail Adams visit Salem and witness Pope Night celebrations. The couple visit the spot of the Witchcraft Trial executions.
1768
The Essex Gazette
The inaugural publication of The Essex Gazette, Salem’s first newspaper.
1773
The Essex Hospital Built
The Essex Hospital for smallpox built on Children’s Island, a mob burned it down the following year.
1775
Leslie's Retreat
General Leslie marches British troops into Salem, but leave after a standoff at North Bridge.
1775-1782
The American Revolution
Salem played several important roles during the American Revolution. It served as the provincial capital of Massachusetts during the summer of 1774, site of the Massachusetts General Court and of several acts of organized resistance. The first autonomous assembly, the Provincial Congress, was created in Salem on October 7, 1774, and Leslie’s Retreat on February 26, 1775 represented another key moment of colonial resistance. Once the Revolution began, Salem became the chief privateering port, sending out over 150 privateering vessels.
1777
The Tabernacle Church Built
The Tabernacle Church, a more conservative Congregational church, is built.
1780
Lucy Hiller Lambert Cleveland Born
The writer and social reformer Lucy Hiller Lambert Cleveland is born.
1782
The Peirce-Nichols House Completed
The Peirce-Nichols House, considered one of McIntire’s masterpieces, is completed.
1783
William Bentley Ordained
William Bentley ordained as minister of the East Church.
1784
The Grand Turk
The ship Grand Turk opens New England trade with China.
1787
Prince Farmer Born
Birth of Prince Farmer, a successful Black oyster dealer and sailor.
1789
George Washington Visits
George Washington visits Salem.
1790
The Salem Gazette Published
The first issue of The Salem Gazette is published.
1792
The Columbia Redeviva
The Columbia Rediviva, owned by John Derby, is the first western vessel to enter the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest.
1794
Uprising Onboard Salem Ship Felicity
The unsuccessful uprising by enslaved people onboard Salem ship Felicity.
1796
William H. Prescott Born
Historian William H. Prescott is born.
1796
Captain John Carnes and a Shipload from Sumatra
Captain John Carnes brings back a shipload of pepper from Sumatra, beginning one of Salem’s most lucrative trades.
1797
The First Elephant
The first elephant in the United States is exhibited in Salem, brought by the ship America.
1797
The Original Friendship
The original Friendship was launched.
1798
Twin Lighthouses
Twin Lighthouses go into service on Bakers Island.
1798
The Arrival of John Remond from Curaçao
John Remond arrives in Beverly from Curaçao at ten years old and soon moves to Salem where he becomes a caterer and patriarch to an influential abolitionist family.
1799
Naval Frigate Essex
The important naval frigate Essex was built in Salem.
1799
The Death of Elias Hasket Derby
Elias Hasket Derby, one of the richest men in America, dies.
1800s
1800
Alexander Hamilton Visits
Founding father Alexander Hamilton visits Salem.
1801
Salem Common Improved
Salem Common is leveled and fenced in a series of improvements sponsored by Elias Hasket Derby, Jr.
1801
Howard Street Cemetery Interments
Interments begin in Howard Street Cemetery, which included a segregated section for the burial of African Americans.
1802
Jacob Crowninshield Elected
Salem merchant Jacob Crowninshield, a Democratic-Republican, is elected to Congress, where he served until his death in 1808.
1802
The American Practical Navigator Published
Nathaniel Bowditch publishes The American Practical Navigator, which revolutionizes navigation.
1804
Nathaniel Hawthorne Born
The birth of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1804
The Death of Caesar
Death of Caesar, a Black mathematician with a remarkable memory.
1805
Howard Street Church Built
The Howard Street Church, which would become a center for abolitionism in Salem, built.
1805
Hamilton Hall Opens
The important gathering place and landmark of federal architecture Hamilton Hall opens.
1806
The Arrival of Mary Spencer
Mary Spencer, creator of the gibraltar candy, arrives in Salem.
1807
Elementary School for Black Students Opened
An elementary school for Black students is opened.
1807
Salem Shipping Industry Devastated
President Jefferson signs the Embargo Act which devastates Salem shipping industry.
1808
Salem's First Universalist Church
The First Universalist Church is built in Salem.
1809
Sophia Peabody Born
Painter Sophia Peabody is born.
1809
The Death of Rose Derby
Death of Rose Derby, formerly enslaved by the Derby family, Sabe leaves Salem shortly thereafter.
1809
Benjamin Peirce Born
Benjamin Peirce, an important mathematician and one of the first great American scientists is born.
1810
The Salem Athanaeum Founded
The Salem Athenaeum, an independent membership library, is founded from two earlier library societies.
1811
Abiel Abbot Low Born
China Trade merchant and clipper ship pioneer Abiel Abbot Low is born.
1811
Joseph Story Nominated
Joseph Story is nominated for the Supreme Court by President James Madison.
1812
Adoniram Judson Selected to be One of the First Missionaries
Adoniram Judson of the Tabernacle Church is selected to be one of the first American Missionaries, first in India and then Burma.
1812
Charles Grafton Page Born
Electrical engineer Charles Grafton Page is born, inventor of the first high-voltage induction coil.
1812-1814
Salem Ships take to Privateering
During The War of 1812, many Salem ships take to privateering, including the Schooner Fame.
1813
Jones Very Born
The birth of poet Jones Very.
1815
Benjamin Williams Crowninshield Appointed
Benjamin Williams Crowninshield appointed Secretary of the Navy.
1816
America's First Luxury Yacht
Building of Cleopatra’s Barge, considered America’s first luxury yacht.
1816
The Last Salem Almshouse
The opening of the last Salem almshouse.
1816-1817
Old Town Hall Built
Old Town Hall is built.
1817
James Monroe Visits
President James Monroe visits Salem.
1819
Salem's Final Custom House Built
The thirteenth and final Salem Custom House built.
1819
William Wetmore Story Born
Sculptor William Wetmore Story is born.
1821
St. Mary's Church Opens
St. Mary’s Church, the first Catholic Church in Salem, is opened.
1821
The Philips House Moved
The Phillips House moved to Chestnut Street from South Danvers (today Peabody, Massachusetts).
1824
The Marquis de Lafayette's Second Visit
The Marquis de Lafayette makes a second visit to Salem, where he is celebrated as a hero of the Revolution and the highway through the south fields is named Lafayette Street in his honor.
1826
Sarah Parker Remond Born
Abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond is born.
1827
The Annals of Salem Published
Joseph B. Felt publishes the first volume of The Annals of Salem, an antiquarian history of the town.
1828
Salem's First Theater Built
The first theater is built in Salem on Crombie Street.
1829
Harriet Low Enters Canton, China in Disguise
Harriet Low enters Canton, China, off-limits to foreign women, disguised as a man.
1829
The Death of Edward Agustus Holyoke
Pioneering doctor Edward Agustus Holyoke dies at age 100.
1830
The Murder of Captain Joseph White
The murder of Captain Joseph White occurs, inspiring the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
1831
The Salem Lyceum Founded
The Salem Lyceum, a significant lecture hall used for the exchange of ideas, is founded.
1832
The First Sumatran Expedition
First Sumatran Expedition, one of the first foreign expeditions of the US Navy, happens in Sumatra due to the raiding of a Salem ship, the Friendship.
1832
The First Load of Gum Copal
John Bertam’s Black Warrior brings back the first load of gum copal from Zanzibar to Salem.
1832
Joseph Hodges Choate Born
Prominent lawyer Joseph Hodges Choate is born.
1832
The First Female Abolition Society in America
The first female abolition society in the United States, the Salem Female Anti-Slavery Society is founded.
1832
Henry Prince Jr. Serves in the Second Seminole War
Henry Prince, Jr. commissioned as an officer of the Revenue Cutter Service, serves in the Second Seminole War.
1832
Salem Sends the First American Ship to Australia
Salem sends the first American ship to Australia, the Tybee, shortly thereafter Salem ships visit New Zealand and Hawai’i.
1833
Andrew Jackson Visits
President Andrew Jackson visits Salem.
1834
Fidelia Bridges Born
Artist Fidelia Bridges is born.
1835
The Dream Published
The Dream, or, The True History of Deacon Giles’ Distillery, an early temperance pamphlet, is published.
1836
Salem Officially a City
Salem is officially designated a city, Leverett Saltonstall is elected first mayor.
1836
William Apes Delivers his Invective
William Apess delivers his invective in favor of Indigenous rights, “Eulogy for King Philip” at the Salem Lyceum.
1837
Salem Street Directory Published
The first Salem Street Directory is published.
1838
Salem City Hall Built
The Salem City Hall is built, the oldest continually inhabited city hall in the nation.
1838
The Railroad Reaches Salem
The railroad reaches Salem with the completion of the first leg of the Eastern Railroad, connecting Salem and Boston.
1839
The Mechanic Hall is Constructed
The Mechanic Hall is constructed. This was a popular theatre in Salem until it was destroyed by fire in 1905.
1839
Harmony Grove Cemetery Founded
Harmony Grove Cemetery, in the rural cemetery style, is founded.
1839
The Largest Steam Cotton Mill in the World
Naumkeag Steam Cotton Company starts operating in Salem, the largest steam cotton mill in the world.
1840
The World Anti-Slavery Conference Attendees
Charles Lenox Remond and William Lloyd Garrison attend the World Anti-Slavery Conference in London.
1844
The Nation's First Racially Integrated Public School
Thanks to the efforts of Black activists, Salem public schools are racially integrated, the first in the nation.
1844
Brigham Young Visits
Early Mormon leader Brigham Young visits his daughter Vilate Young while she is living in Salem.
1846
Salem's Last Direct Shipment of Pepper
The Lucille delivers Salem’s last direct shipment of pepper from Sumatra.
1847
Salem's Train Depot
Salem’s train depot was built with its Gothic Revival facade, demolished in 1955.
1848
Essex Institute Founded
The Essex Institute was founded as a historical society for Essex County.
1849
Salem Ships Set Sail to California
Sparked by the California Gold Rush, several Salem ships sailed for San Francisco.
1850
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne finished The Scarlet Letter while living at 14 Mall Street.
1851
Frank Cousins Born
Photographer and tradesman Frank Cousins is born.
1851
Gothic Revival House
Timothy Brooks commissioned a Gothic Revival house at 260 Lafayette Street, one of the finest still standing in the country.
1854
Salem Normal School Founded
Salem Normal School was founded as a women’s teaching college.
1854
Some of the Earliest Color-Printed Lithographs in the U.S.
John Fiske Allen published a book on growing the Amazonian water-lily Victoria Regia, likely the first color-printed lithographs in the United States.
1855
John Bertram House Built
John Bertram House, later the Salem Public Library, was built.
1856
The Massachusetts Women's Suffrage Annual Convention
The Women’s Suffrage Club of Salem hosts the Massachusetts Women’s Suffrage annual convention, Julia Ward Howe and Lucy Stone are speakers.
1856
William Filene's Clothing Store Opens
Jewish businessman William Filene opened a clothing store on Essex Street, his son Edward Filene, who founded Filene’s Department Store in Boston, was born in Salem in 1860.
1856
Plummer Hall Built
Plummer Hall is built for the Salem Athenaeum and Essex Institute.
1857
The Immaculate Conception Church Built
The Immaculate Conception Church is built in Salem, the city’s second Catholic parish the oldest surviving today.
1858
Salem Willows Established
Salem Willows, a popular amusement park, is established on Salem Neck.
1858
Salem Explorer Creates Lander Road
Salem explorer and surveyor Frederick W. Lander creates the Lander Road through Wyoming and Montana, the first government-sponsored trail to Oregon or California.
1859
The Invention of a Form of Incandescent Light
Moses G. Farmer, invents a form of incandescent light, becoming perhaps the first person to light a room in their house with electricity.
1862
Charlotte Forten Teaches Formerly Enslaved People
Charlotte Forten travels to Port Royal, SC to teach formerly enslaved people
1861-1864
The American Civil War
American Civil War
1862
Frank W. Benson Born
Frank W. Benson is born.
1862
Frederick Townsend Ward Killed
Salem mercenary Frederick Townsend Ward is killed while working for the Qing Dynasty during the Taiping Rebellion.
1865
Frederick Douglass Speaks at the Lyceum
Frederick Douglass speaks at the Lyceum on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
1866
Caroline Emmerton Born
Philanthropist Caroline Emmerton is born.
1867
The First Jewish Office Holder in Salem
Merchant David Conrad is elected an alderman, the first Jewish office holder in Salem.
1867
Daniel Low & Co. Opens
Jewelers Daniel Low & Co. open is Salem, they later sell Salem Witch Trials souvenirs including the popular Witch Spoon.
1867
Salem Witchcraft Published
The two-volume Salem Witchcraft by Charles W. Upham is published.
1869
Salem Fraternity Founded
The Salem Fraternity, a predecessor the Boys and Girls Club of Salem is founded, the oldest in Massachusetts.
1873
The First Salem Hospital
The first Salem Hospital created.
1873
The St. Joseph Parish Founded
French Canadian immigrants found the St. Joseph Parish in “La Pointe.”
1876
The Woman's Friend Society
The Woman’s Friend Society begins.
1877
The First Public Demonstration of the Telephone
Alexander Graham Bell showcases the first public demonstration of the telephone.
1878
The Last Salem Merchant Ship Returns from a Voyage
Mattie F., the last Salem merchant ship to return from a voyage calls in Salem harbor with a cargo from Cayenne, French Guiana.
1880
The First Edition of Salem Evening News
First edition of The Salem Evening News is printed.
1881
Salem Fire Station #2 Built
Salem Fire Station #2 on North Street built, said to be the third oldest still standing in the country.
1883
Matthew Arnold Lectures at the Lyceum
Victorian English poet Matthew Arnold lectures at the Salem Lyceum as part of lecture tour of North America.
1883
Parker Games Founded
George Swinnerton Parker founds Parker Brothers game company.
1886
The Lowell Island House Built
Lowell Island House, a hotel built 1852 on Children’s Island, becomes a Sanitarium for children with diseases such as rickets.
1886 & 1887
Polish Immigrants Arrive in Salem
Polish immigrants begin to to arrive in Salem, including Herman Tyburc and Felix Sobocinski.
1887
The Winne-Egan Hotel Opens
Dr. Nathan R. Morse opens the Winne-Egan Hotel built on Bakers Island, a popular resort until it burned down in 1906.
1892
Salem's Fame as "Witch City"
Salem’s fame as “Witch City” begins with the popularity surrounding the bicentennial of the Salem Witch Trials.
1893
The Last Square-Rigged Ship to Call in Salem
The Mindoro, built in 1864, is the last square-rigged ship to call in Salem, where she sits at Derby Wharf before being purchased in 1897.
1895
The Death of Sarah Narbonne
Sarah Narbonne, who runs a cent shop in her family’s old house, dies at the age of 101.
1895
Japanese-Inspired House Built
Bunkio Matsuki, an immigrant from Japan, builds a Japanese-inspired house on Laurel Street.
1895
Aaron Richmond Born
Aaron Richmond, a manager and impresario for classical musicians is born.
1898
Temple Shalom Founded
Temple Shalom of the Congregational Sons of Jacob is founded, the oldest continually-operated synagogue on the North Shore.
1898
The Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War: About 300 Salem residents serve, including John P. Riley, who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery while on a naval mission to cut an underwater communications cable in Cienfuegos, Cuba.
1900s
1903
A Primarily Polish Church Forms
St. John the Baptist parish separates from the Immaculate Conception parish, forming a primarily Polish church in Salem.
1903
South Congregational Church Destroyed
Samuel McIntire’s South Congregational Church (built 1804-5) is destroyed in a fire.
1908
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Built
The St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is built in Salem.
1909
St. Joseph Hall Built
St. Joseph Hall built on Derby Street as a social club for Salem’s large population of Polish immigrants
1910
The House of Seven Gables Opens to the Public
The House of the Seven Gables opens to the public for tours.
1910
Population Exceeds 43,000
Population of the city exceeds 43,000, roughly the same as it is today.
1911
Robert Rantoul Hired for The Philips House Restoration
Anna Wheatland Phillips and Stephen W. Phillips hire Robert Rantoul to undertake a colonial revival restoration of The Phillips House.
1911
The Preservation of Early American Houses
The Hooper-Hathaway House is moved to the campus of The House of the Seven Gables. One year later, the John Ward House opened to the public and landmarks in the preservation of early American houses.
1912
Mary Harrod Northend Publishes Her First of Many Books
Mary Harrod Northend publishes Colonial Homes and their Furnishings, the first of her many books about Early America.
1913
The Salem Pageant
The Salem Pageant is staged.
1914
The Salem Chamber of Commerce Established
Salem Chamber of Commerce is established as an advocate for the city’s businesses.
1914
The Great Salem Fire
The Great Salem Fire.
1915
The Death of Edward Cassell
Caterer Edward Cassell dies, aged 84, after a prestigious career as a caterer at Hamilton Hall dating back to at least 1860.
1916
Salem Adopts its Current Government Structure
Salem adopts its current government structure, with a mayor, four city councillors at large, and a councillor from each ward.
1917-1918
World War I
World War I: Salem men go to fight, women train as Red Cross nurses, and those at home practice for civil defense.
1922
The Lydia Pinkham Memorial Clinic Built
Aroline Gove builds the Lydia Pinkham Memorial Clinic.
1923
"Java Head" Filmed in Salem
George Melford’s silent film Java Head, now lost, is filmed in Salem.
1924
The First Volume of The History of Salem, Massachusetts Published
The first volume of The History of Salem, Massachusetts by Sidney Perley is published.
1925
Hawthorne Hotel Built
The Hawthorne Hotel is built.
1926
The Salem Tercentenary
The Salem Tercentenary is celebrated.
1926
Thaddeus Buczko Born
Politician Thaddeus Buczko is born.
1930
Pioneer Village Created
Creation of Pioneer Village for Massachusetts Tercentenary.
1931
Steve's Market Opens
Italian-American-run Steve’s Market opens.
1933
The Wildcat Strike
Wildcat Strike by workers at the Pequot Mill.
1935
Coast Guard Air Station Founded
A Coast Guard Air Station is founded at Winter Island in Salem.
1938
The First National Historic Site in the Country
Salem Maritime National Historic Site becomes the first National Historic Site in the Country.
1939
Mark Slade Born
Mark Slade, an actor best known for the 1967-1971 TV Western “The High Chaparral” is born.
1944
Historic Salem, Inc.
Historic Salem, Inc. is founded.
1941-1945
World War II
World War II
1946
The Salem Frigate Published
John Jennings’ The Salem Frigate, set aboard the Essex, is published.
1950
The Longest Mayoral Tenure in Salem's History
Francis X. Collins is elected for the first time to what would be the longest mayoral tenure in Salem’s history. He serves until 1969.
1950
The Third St. Joseph Church Built
The third St. Joseph Church is built in the International Style, demolished in 2012.
1953
Pequot Mill Operations Move South
The operations of the Pequot Mill move to South Carolina.
1953
Arthur Miller's The Crucible
Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible popularizes the Witch Trials for a new generation.
1957
The Old Witch Gaol Demolished
New England Telephone Company demolishes the Old Witch Gaol to build their office building.
1964
Libby Reardon's Pickman House Discovery
Preservationist Libby Reardon discovers that the Pickman House was built in the 1600s.
1966
The National Register of Historic Places Implemented
National Register of Historic Places is implemented. Salem Maritime, the Peabody Museum, and the Nathaniel Bowditch House listed in the first year.
1970
Bewitched Filmed in Salem
Several episodes of Bewitched are filmed and set in Salem.
1970
Salem's First Witch Shop Opens
Laurie Cabot opens Salem’s first witch shop.
1971
Ada Louise Huxtable's Helpful NY Times Article
Ada Louise Huxtable’s article in the New York Times helps end large-scale urban renewal plans in Salem.
1972
The Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum opens.
1978
NSGLA Founded
The North Shore Gay and Lesbian Alliance (NSGLA) is founded.
1982
A String of Arsons in Salem
A string of arsons destroy and damage buildings around Salem and lead to the death of firefighter Raymond McSwiggin.
1982
Haunted Happenings Begin
The first Haunted Happenings.
1992
NAGLY Founded
NAGLY, the North Shore Alliance of GLBTQ Youth is founded.
1992
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial
The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is dedicated by Elie Wiesel.
1992
The Peabody Essex Museum Forms
The Peabody Essex Museum formed from the merger of Essex Institute and the Peabody Museum.
1993
Hocus Pocus Debuts
Now-classic film Hocus Pocus debuts.
1996
Essex National Heritage
Essex National Heritage Area created.
1998
Destination Salem Founded
Destination Salem is founded to promote tourism.
2000s
2003
Yin Yu Tang Relocated to Salem
Late 18th-century Chinese house Yin Yu Tang relocated to Salem and opened to the public as part of the Peabody Essex Museum.
A house originally built in the late 1700s in Anhui Province, China, and lived in by eight generations of the Huang family, was purchased by the Peabody Essex Museum and reassembled piece by piece in Salem, opening to the public in 2003. The house is built around a central courtyard, each room outfitted with finely carved wooden shutters. Today the house is a centerpiece of the museum and an opportunity to learn about life and architecture in rural China.
2005
First Female Mayor
Kim Driscoll is elected the city’s first female mayor, a position she held until 2023.
Kim Driscoll was elected Mayor of Salem, the first woman to hold the position. She was reelected four times and served until 2023, becoming the second-longest-serving mayor in Salem’s history. Her tenure was marked by the revitalization of downtown and controversies about development. She now serves as the 73rd lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.
2006
The Salem Ferry
The Salem Ferry begins service.
2007
Salem Main Streets Established
Salem Main Streets is established to revitalize downtown as a vibrant year-round retail, dining and cultural destination.
2010
North Shore Community Development Commission
North Shore Community Development Commission is founded.
2010
Salem State University
Salem State College becomes Salem State University.
2012
The Community Preservation Act
Salem adopts the Community Preservation Act (CPA).
2012
Salem in Pop Culture
The 2010s and 20s brought a renewed focus on Salem in mass media, with many films and television shows drawing very loosely on the city’s history, such as ParaNorman, The Lords of Salem, Salem, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Hubie Halloween, Motherland: Fort Salem, and Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.
2013
Salem Designated the Official Birthplace of the National Guard
President Obama designates Salem the official Birthplace of the National Guard.
The congressman representing Salem, John Tierney, introduced legislation designating Salem the official birthplace of the National Guard, in memory of the First Muster of the East Regiment in 1637. President Barack Obama signed it into law in 2013. Every April service members, veterans, historical reenactors, and the general public commemorate that historic event on Salem Common.
2015
Salem United Founded
Salem United is founded.
2016
Salem Harbor Station Built
Footprint natural gas power station built in Salem, replacing the coal-fired Salem Harbor Station built in the early 1950s.
2016
The Satanic Temple Opens
The Satanic Temple opens in Salem.
2016
Proctor's Ledge
A team of experts confirm the location of the executions during the Salem Witchcraft Trials was at Proctor’s Ledge.
2017
Sanctuary for Peace
Salem becomes a Sanctuary for Peace following the approval of an ordinance by the Salem City Council and Salem voters.
2017
El Punto Urban Art Museum
El Punto Urban Art Museum begins with 50 murals in The Point.
2018
The Collection Center Opens
The Peabody Essex Museum opens a 120,000-square-foot Collection Center in Rowley.
2019
PEM Expands
The Peabody Essex Museum opens a 40,000-square-foot expansion.
2023
Traditional Fishing Weir Recreated on Salem Harbor
Members of the Massachusett at Ponkapoag recreate traditional fishing weir in Cat Cove.
For the first time in centuries, members of the Massachusett constructed a fishing weir on Salem Harbor. A fishing weir is a fence of interwoven sticks around wooden stakes designed to trap fish as the tide goes out and serve as a passive form of food collection. Members of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag worked with fifth graders from the Bentley school to build a weir on Cat Cove in April 2023 and returned in September to build two more weirs with the fourth graders from all of Salem’s public schools. The project is a work of cultural reclamation, reviving a traditional craft, which also seeks to educate youth about the continued Indigenous presence in the area.