witch trials memorial

Be sure to visit the memorial to the accused vistims; very moving. A fascinating tour of a fascinating subject

It is important that memorials exist but they are not entertaining nor meant to be. While standing here a passerby stopped and told me about all of the local sites that I needed to see. This made my visit to the memorial worthwhile. If you are in the area you should stop to contemplate what was going through people's minds back then.

This is one of the places one just needs to visit, but it really isn't all that spectacular. The names of those executed in 1692 are inscribed in marble, there are a lot of famous quotes, and it is a pretty setting, but it isn't worth more than a couple minutes. The one thing that bugged me the most, is the design of the memorial is so 20th century, and doesn't capture the feeling of 1692, at all. In addition, it'd be nice to have more information available, and indicate that other than one person, no one has a clue where all of the other victims are buried. Still, if one is interested in the Salem Witch Trials, this is a must visit.

We had a great time learning about the witch mania that swept through Salem in those years. It was worth the money!!

Lots of Salem and witch trial History. Hope that they updated some of the attractions. All in all not to bad.

I visited Salem in July 2013. I have read many books about the Salem Witch Trial, and knew that I had to see this. It is a somber memorial as it has the names of those who were murdered for greed by their neighbors. Thankful the accused who declared innocent in 2000.

This is a small memorial in the place where it all began. You can see a list of names and learn a little about what happened. It won't take more than 10 to 15 minutes to see it all, and then you can go to the Rebecca Nurse House a short distance away. Definitely worth seeing.

This is a fun stop if you're visiting Salem. Theres not enough to look at to carve out a whole day or even a whole hour but it is worth seeing. The benches lining the walkway are all dedicated to someone hung during the witch hysteria. Its nice to take one of the walking tours through it because they will give more detailed information. Also cool that its so walkable, close by other attractions and free.

This memorial is well done and well kept, really heart breaking when you think of what happened and what a sad time in history this really was. The many innocents who were wrongfully accused and tortured. The memorial is across the street from where they were publicly accused; the original site of the Salem Village Meeting House, where most of the witchcraft trials were held before moving to Salem proper. The memorial was completed in 1992 and is a magnificent sight. The memorial granite wall has the names of the accused engraved along with their origin and quotes of innocence and there is a large granite monument to the front entitled the Book of Life with two large steel leg shackles. There's also a smaller granite monument to the front showing the patrons and sponsors of this memorial. Danvers was originally Salem Village before changing it's name; where the 1692 witch hysteria started. When I visited, less than two weeks ago, I was told that the reason for changing the name is because they didn't want to be acknowledged as where the witch hysteria begun due to their mistakes and wrongful accusations; although written research suggests other reasons as well.

Some may wonder why the Witchcraft Victims Memorial is in Danvers rather than Salem, given that Salem usually comes to mind when thinking of the witchcraft hysteria of 1692. The explanation is that Danvers was once a part of Salem known as Salem Village, and the first accusations of witchcraft were made by young girls living in Salem Village. Later, in the mid-1700s, Salem Village was established a separate town and took on the new name of Danvers. So, Danvers was really at the center of the witchcraft tragedy. The town remembers its connection to the tragedy in a quiet but powerful way with this memorial.The memorial is located on a residential street in front of some athletic fields; this may seem an odd location, but it is, in fact, across the street from the site of the Salem Village Meeting House where examinations of some of the accused were conducted. The rather massive monument employs lots of symbolism, and I find most poignant the Book of Life, which symbolizes truth and reminds us that the accused who maintained their innocence (truth) were sadly those who lost their lives. Large tablets behind the Book of Life list the names and towns of residence of the 24 accused (they are from Salem Village as well as many other communities in northeastern Massachusetts). Quotes from several of the accused are displayed on several of the tablets.The memorial is quite easy to find; if visiting the Rebecca Nurse Homestead, it’s less than a five-minute drive away and well-worth the detour. You can park on the street. I often stop for a short visit when I am nearby as the memorial offers a good opportunity to reflect on this tragic era of our history.

You don't hear too much about this place. It's pretty cool and not a crowded tourist area. Only a few minutes from Nurse Homestead

The memorial was tastefully and respectfully done to honor those falsely accused and wrongly murdered. I visited in October, which was probably not the best time to go with Halloween approaching, but went to pay my respects. I recently learned I am a direct descendant to one of the men who were hung. It pleased me to see such a nice memorial in his and all of their honor.

I was expecting much more and much better displays and layout.Not at all what we expected and had been looking forward to at this attraction

A simple and lasting tribute to the wrongly accused. A bit out of the way to find, but worth it for those respectful of the wrongs of witchcraft and its true history.

Most people think of Salem when they think of the witch hysteria. But, at the time, Danvers was Salem Village. This is a true monument to the accused. Not flashy or touristy like the whole of the Salem, the monument in Danvers is tasteful and striking in its simplicity.