The Jeremiah Lee Mansion — Attraction in Marblehead

I'm a Salem resident and I am on a mission to tour all the local attractions AND historical sites.

About this one:

This mansion is a hidden gem in the heart of the quaint, coastal town of Marblehead. Built in 1768 for wealthy merchant Jeremiah Lee, acquired later by a bank, it is now a museum with guided tours, open seasonally.

I have visited many historic houses over the years, and this one just became one of my favorite!

Almost all its room are open to the public on all three floors - which is not common - and fully furnished with period pieces curated to the detail. I saw here objects that I've hardly or never seen in other houses, such as (and not limited to) several nursery-related items, drinking glass coolers, water buckets to use to stop fires, sewing supplies, special vases for crocuses etc.

On the third floor there is "museum inside the museum" with a special room showcasing unique objects manufactured or crafted in Marblehead.

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and sweet. The day I visited, we were only 3 people in the tour, and it lasted about an hour.

If you are visiting Salem, this mansion is just a  quick car ride from downtown Salem. I recommend it especially if you are visiting the North Shore because you are interested in the local Maritime/nautical history.

PRO

Everything that I said before! It is a extremely well preserved - and clearly loved by its community - historic house definitely worth visiting.

CONs

Open only seasonally. Finding a parking spot near the house might be a bit hard on busier times of the day. There is a small parking area adjacent to the garden of the mansion, but it is not for visitors only. The other option is street parking, that in Marblehead, with its narrow and twisty roads, is not...

After a very disappointing visit to the "House of the Seven Gables" in nearby Salem, we decided to give the Jeremiah Lee Mansion a shot, and the experience could not have been more difficult. We were welcomed into the house, advised that a tour had just started (they were still in the first room), and given the choice of joining them in progress or waiting for the next tour. Since they had just started, we went ahead and joined them. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the house and its inhabitants, and carried with her a notebook which she referred to a couple times to make sure she was giving correct answers to some of the more unusual questions. The guided tour lasted more than an hour, and our guide was happy to stay to discuss the house and answer questions beyond that time. If you're interested in a great tour of a marvelous old house in remarkable condition, I can't recommend the Jeremiah Lee Mansion...

You're probably visiting Marblehead to see quaint old houses and dig up a little bit of history...complete your experience by trying out this historical Georgian mansion! This one is open to tours in Marblehead and gives you a chance to step back in time and learn more about how Georgian mansions are built and designed, in addition to seeing the interior of a well-preserved 18th century luxury home. Check the mansion if a guide is available, then buy your tickets at the Marblehead Museum just across the street (and visit the art gallery there too before or after the mansion) and head over!

Our tour guide, Rick, was superb and he was really passionate in explaining. There is a lot you can learn and see in here - be prepared to possibly exceed 1hr to complete the whole house. Pictures allowed...