Witch Dungeon Museum — Attraction in Salem

We just went yesterday and the dungeon was very immersive! There was the smell of mildew (which is normal underground) but I can't imagine what the smell would have been in the 1690's. It was somber and heartbreaking to see their small cells of imprisonment. A very good tour! The theater piece after the narrative intro was passionate and made us feel like we were on the peer jury. I felt like she pointed right at me! It was a strong prospective that we, in modern day, would have easily found the accused to be innocent. But my issues are with the beginning narrative. We fully understood that men were the sole power in those days in a puritan society but I felt (as a woman) that our specific narrator heavily impressed "it was the men! It's men's fault!" She expressed it in a way that didn't clear the air that things are not that way anymore. She went on and on about how men are the worst. Also that women were not seen as people which is not true of that time, after further investigation. We lacked a lot of rights but families did love and care about their daughters and we had more rights than slaves. Mothers spent at least 16-20 years teaching girls how to cook, clean, read and write, some first aid and child birth, animal care,and even some home repairs. She said we were not allowed to speak or be spoken to? But at the time in New England we had the right to a fair trial, to bear witness, to represent ourselves, and appeal in court. She also made a comment (that made both my boyfriend and I look at eachother funny) that there was "No science in America or the rest of the world at the time" which is such a blatant lie. We literally had books of awe inspiring research for all science categories and foundations at the time. But she pressed on the idea 12 year old girls were sold off to marriage and pregnancy. It was already a known fact woman were better at pregnancy by early twenties. Which is why the average age of marriage for women in the 1600 and 1700's was late teens and early twenties. It was not common to marry off your daughters at 12. That was just the age of consent but even they found that weird at the time. Our narrator followed the script that it was normal and abundant that girls were married off and made pregnant at 12. Which is not true. It just elududed to men being evil. Betty Parrish was 10 years old at the time of her trial and there is absolutely no historical documents backing up the narrative that she suffered from shock from an arranged marriage at the age of 12. -I have issue with her claim that science did not exist in the world at the time. -That men supremely dominated and women were only property and not seen as humans Premature married at 12 years old was common and normal That the hysteria was the work of men in power and all the girls were just victims because no one knew any better.

The real evil here was outdated puritan religion and I think that should be cast as the real evil and not the men and women who fell for it. It's a firm lesson that religion without question leads to feud and death. Please rewrite your intro on that rather than males always...

Good campy fun! If you’re coming to Salem to see all things witches, than I do recommend stopping by the Witch Dungeon Museum. The experience begins with a brief historical reenactment and then a tour of the dungeon, which is a recreation of the jail where those suspected of witchcraft were held. Per the tour, it is laid out identically down to the dimensions - but it’s hard to tell if that’s true.

The reenactment is okay. Depending on who is working on the day of your visit, it may be better or it may be worse. Hard to say. The day we went, the performance was very low energy. To be fair though, we arrived just days after Halloween, and the actors were probably exhausted. I think my biggest complaint would be that one of the costumes historically and geographically inaccurate. But I’m guessing they try to share costume pieces between the Dungeon and their companion, the New England Pirate Museum.

The Dungeon portion is interesting but dating pretty badly. But there is a level of charm to that. It does smell a little musty though. So, keep that in mind if your sensitive to that. When we went through, it was a semi-guided tour but it seems that may change based on the day and the tour guide. I’ve heard some say it was fully-guided and others make it sound like they were just kind on their own down there.

Overall, it could use a bit of a renovation if they want to keep up interest. The ads and signage outside the building boast it as an award-winning reenactment, but it feels like those days are behind them. The potential is there for this to be revamped into something special and interesting again. This is still a very unique experience when compared to the other museums, as it focuses on the experiences of those who were jailed, tried, and tortured rather than the more broad overviews you get elsewhere.

For those who insist on seeking out “artifacts” and “relics,” this is one of the few museums that has any. A rafter from the original jail is displayed at the start of the tour.

The gift shop is fairly standard. The merchandise is almost identical to that of the Witch History Museum with just the name swapped out. There is also generic Salem souvenirs and witchy merchandise. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip the gift shop and visit the one at the History Museum on Essex street (you do not need to pay admission to...

Having visited this museum over 20 years ago, I was curious to see how it had evolved. Unfortunately, the answer is: it hasn’t. If anything, it’s aged poorly—both in presentation and in purpose.

The experience begins with a one-act play meant to set the historical tone, but it instead serves as an awkward, tone-deaf introduction. The performance felt stiff and uninspired, with an older actress wearing a COVID mask that, while understandable from a safety standpoint, made the emotional resonance of the piece nearly impossible to grasp. The production didn’t immerse so much as it alienated.

What followed was a tour led by an overly enthusiastic guide who seemed bizarrely gleeful about recounting the brutal suffering of accused witches. It’s unsettling when you’re being whisked through stories of torture, imprisonment, and execution with a tone more suited for a theme park ride than a site of historical tragedy. There's a way to educate without trivializing human suffering—this museum hasn’t found it.

The dungeon itself, while mildly interesting, is clearly showing its age. A few mannequins in dimly lit spaces do little to capture the gravity of the events they represent. I've seen haunted houses during Halloween season in Salem that capture the eeriness far more effectively.

At $37 for three people, this is hardly a value. It's essentially the same as it was two decades ago—only older, more worn down, and seemingly frozen in a misguided version of itself. The content lacks any real update, perspective, or self-awareness, and frankly, that makes it not only outdated but uncomfortable.

Salem has many worthwhile historical experiences. Unfortunately, this is not...