The Pickering House — Attraction in Salem

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

About this one: The Pickering House is one of Salem and New England's oldest houses, built in 1660. It has a unique history as it was occupied by the same family for more than 350 years. It's possible to tour the first floor and the grounds through a guided tour run by its caretaker Vijay.

I had the please to took the tour yesterday and it was a remarkable experience. Through the history of the house and its inhabitants during the centuries, Vijay gives powerful insights also on Salem's and US history. The house's most notable inhabitant was Timothy Pickering, who had a prominent military and political role during the Revolutionary War and the beginnings of the United States.

The tour is about 1 hour and, as far as I know, it has to be booked online in advance, or at least you should check their website as tours are not given every day but on specific days and times.

You can tour three rooms: the first one to visit was part of the original 1660 structure and used back then as a kitchen; then the parlor and the sunroom. Furniture and objects are original to the house and to the Pickering family.

The Pickering House is very close to downtown Salem but not on tourist paths, so it can be a nice "finding" on a more quiet street. Its unique Gothic revival facade is great for pictures too!

PROs Very informative and pleasant tour in a cozy environment with a unique history. Pictures allowed inside the house!

CONs Nothing to say here! Just, don't forget to check their website for tour days and times as this location is not currently open to the public outside...

This home is a First Period Colonial house located on Broad Street, Salem in the McIntire District. Built by settler John Pickering, a yeoman from England. He and his wife Elizabeth travelled to the colonies in 1637, and once it was built this house was owned and occupied by 10 successive generations of the Pickering family, making this building the oldest house in the US that has been continuously occupied by 1 family. The house has endured over 350 years of remodeling and restoration. The original structure was a two-room farmhouse on a vast plot of land that ran all the way down to the seaport on the North River, encompassing what is today Chestnut Street and the McIntire District. The left side was added circa 1671 by John Pickering II. In 1751, Deacon Timothy Pickering raised a rear lean-to up to a full two stories, which is how the house exists today. Then in 1841 the front facade was reworked in the Gothic Revival style, with the facade gables probably dating from this time. And finally in 1904 a two-story ell was added to the rear. Boston architect Gordon Robb, who also restored the Witch House in Salem, restored the interior of the Pickering House in 1948 and it was opened to the public in 1951 by the nonprofit Pickering Foundation.

The Pickering House is a contributing property of the Chestnut Street Historic District, a US...

Fantastic tour with a very knowledgable guide! We were very lucky to get a weekday tour by going by when the guide happened to be there for a scheduled tour and he was incredibly kind to take the time to give us a tour too. The guide is an architectural historian who was incredibly knowledgeable on every aspect of the house, grounds, and family. The house is the oldest in Salem and was continually inhabited until recently, so it has some really interesting layers, with some original furniture and many fascinating features, and perhaps most interestingly, a barn with reclaimed 17th century pieces and everything since. Also one of the few houses in Salem in a large lot, and the yard/gardens are lovely, as is the cemetery...