Salem Heritage Trail
START HERE
About
The Salem Heritage Trail guides visitors from around the corner and around the world through over 400 years of Salem history. The themes of the trail bridge connections from the land’s earliest settlement to the Salem we see today with focuses on local Indigenous Peoples, Colonial Salem and the Witch Trials, the Age of Sail, Industrial Heritage, Abolitionism and African American Stories, Immigrant Experiences, Religious Diversity, and Contemporary Salem.
Originally created in the 1980s as a self-guided walking tour, the Salem Heritage Trail was designed to help visitors navigate Salem’s historic downtown and experience its many landmarks at their own pace. Inspired by the concept of a continuous path similar to Boston’s Freedom Trail, the route was first marked with a painted red line along city sidewalks. In 2020, the trail was reimagined with a renewed commitment to inclusivity and community engagement, including the transition to the trail’s current yellow line design.
There is no official beginning or end to the Salem Heritage Trail. Visitors are encouraged to join the trail wherever they are in the city and explore Salem’s history in their own way and at their own pace.
Click to see the Salem Heritage Trail Mobile App
For anyone wishing to revisit Salem or for those unable to visit in person, try our 360° Experience
Historic Sites
The Salem Heritage Trail is a tool for exploring historic Salem on foot. Hop on the trail in the middle or on one of the ends, and follow it through historic downtown Salem to the edge of the McIntire Historic District and along the Essex Street Pedestrian Way to Derby Street and the Salem Waterfront District.