Open Historic Houses
Some of Salem’s most iconic historic house museums open their doors for free with special FOOD AT 400+ themed exhibits. Grab your free entry wristband at Old Town Hall. Complimentary Salem Trolley available to visit all houses.
June 13th and 14th
Free special exhibits at a variety of historic house museums and locations across Salem’s downtown and waterfront area, June 13th and 14th, 11am to 4pm (unless otherwise noted.) Please make sure to get your hand stamp at Old Town Hall first. The hand stamp is required to get into the Houses to see exhibits for free and for trolley service.
Getting around:
Many locations are walkable or bikeable. See descriptions below to plan your desired route.
In addition, we are so happy to announce FREE shuttle service courtesy Salem Trolley, first come first served basis, on Saturday June 13th and Sunday June 14th from 11am to 4pm, unless otherwise noted. The Trolley will run in a loop, starting on Essex Street, just up the path from Old Town Hall, in about :30+ ish loop for return, depending on traffic. Driver gratuity appreciated ♥
Participating Historic Properties:
The Salem Athenaeum
337 Essex Street (Saturday June 13th ONLY, 11am to 4pm)
Founded in 1810, Food at 400+ guests we welcome to visit one of the oldest membership libraries in the United States, located within the historic McIntire District.
Exhibit info coming soon.
****
The Witch House
310 Essex Street
The Witch House will be showcasing an exhibit featuring an early 17th century recipe for Tartes of Strawberryes. This display will also highlight historic teas and remedies containing strawberry fruit, leaves and roots.
Season your strawberryes with sugar a very little Sinamon a litle ginger…
Tartes of Strawberryes will run the full two weeks of Food at 400+, June 11th to 22nd.
****
The Cotting-Smith Assembly House
138 Federal Street
Food at 400+ guests can enjoy a visit to this lovely property, once home to public lectures, dances and concerts. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places – and is the location where in Salem where George Washington attended a dance in 1789! Food at 400+ guests will take away a copy of Sally Ropes’ original gingerbread recipe and a cookie treat!
****
The Phillips House
34 Chestnut Street
“What’s cooking?” Phillips House will have the dining room, kitchen, and china pantry available “open house” style for Food at 400+ participants, with information on 20th century domestic service, menus, and dining. Food at 400+ guests will be provided a recipe card to take home that the Phillips family used in the early 20th century.
****
The Pickering House
18 Broad Street
“Welcome home!” Featuring a historic cookbook and Rumford Roaster in their kitchen. Guides will be available to lead Food at 400+ attendees through the house, exhibiting the history of mealtime and home cooking. The dining room will be set for dinner and access to the 1940s kitchen with an early oven made in Salem, the Rumford Roaster.
****
Charter Street Cemetary Welcome Center
The Charter Street Cemetery Welcome Center will be sharing an exhibit featuring the history of Morbid Confections. Funeral biscuits and burial cakes featured prominently in funeral ceremonies across Europe and North America for centuries.
The world must go round as usual, and folks must eat and drink even when their nearest and best are lying low. The manufacture of funeral biscuits is, we are all aware, quite a flourishing concern.- 1877 Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine
Morbid Confections will run the full two weeks of Food at 400+, June 11th to 22nd.
****
Salem Maritime National Historic Park
Two locations open for Food at 400+ guests. Exhibit info coming soon.
Derby House on Saturday the 13th
65 Derby Street
Narbonne House Sunday the 14th
71 Essex Street
****
The House of the Seven Gables
115 Derby Street
Historian Dan Marshal will be showing a Colonial herb usage presentation at the Gables. More info to come!
****
John Ward House
9 Brown Street
A rare look! The PEM is excited to showcase the John Ward House, as its incredible and historic kitchen area is not often open to the public. A PEM staff member will be on-site to provide historical background on the house and its kitchen.
****
Morning on the Farm, Saturday June 13th, 9.30am
Special Mack Park Farm visit, 9.30am to 11am+. Farm volunteers will be onsite doing demos and showing the incredible work they do, growing thousands of pounds of produce every season without pesticides. It is an amazing resource of fresh local food for residents, food assistance organizations and local retailers.
Enjoy a complimentary shuttle The Salem Trolley is offering a free shuttle, first come first served, from Central Street to Mack Park Farm Saturday morning June 13th. Departs Essex Street, up the path from Old Town Hall, at 9.30am and 9.50am; returns from Mack Park 10.15am and 10:40am. (if you miss this last trolley, it is about a 30 minute walk back to Old Town Hall.)
