Wenham Museum — Attraction in Wenham

I'm a Salem resident and I am on a mission to tour all the local attractions, museums and places of relevance.

About this one:

This is a small but quaint museum dedicated primarily to model railroads and vintage toys with a touch of "Americana" spirit. It is advertised as a museum for families and it is indeed a nice space for children, even very young ones, that can explore, play and interact with the model railroads and not only. I went with my 1.5 year old and he enjoyed the experience and the rest of the visitors were families as well, with young children (around 3-5 years of age I'd say).

It consists of two floors, the one downstairs has the majority of the train dioramas plus a play area. The main floor presents a miscellanea of vintage toys on display and some activities for kids. Then, surprisingly, from the main floor you can access and visit an historical house built in 1662, with - even more surprisingly! - direct ties with the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. It was, back then, the house of Wenham pastor, Rev. Joseph Gerrish, and it's in this house that a Wenham resident accused the wife of Rev Hale of Beverly of witchcraft (which is one of the reasons why Hale changed ideas towards the trials, became a skeptical and wrote his Modest Inquiry). The two rooms of the historical house open to the public are furnished but kids friendly at the same time, so kids can interact with everything here which is nice.

This museum looks like a great space for locals to bring their families and spend some quality time together. It might be enjoyable for adults too if interested in model railroads or in childhood memorabilia.

If you are visiting Salem with family, this museum is located about a 20 minutes ride from Salem and can offer a nice hour or two of entertainment for your young ones. The historical house is a nice bonus for visiting adults.

PROs Very friendly and feels like a welcoming, fun, good old-fashioned space for families.

Open all year round (but check their website for opening hours!)

CONs I must say that, as a museum, it's a bit updated and "random" in...

As we all know MA’s weather is so unpredictable, last weekend we stumbled upon this place while searching for fun indoor places for kids. I have two boys and they absolutely love train toys and everything trains! This place is a must visit for train loving kids and adults who want to go on a nostalgia trip! It is a delightful world of miniature railways, intricate landscapes, and tiny towns bustling with life. There is detailed railroad models built over a span of time and so well maintained in this museum! The attention to detail in the train setups is truly impressive—mountains, tunnels, stations, mills, factories, signals, livestock and even tiny people going about their day! Not only this, but colored trees to show Autumn and bridge walls painted with advertisements! What makes this museum extra special is how kid-friendly it is. Interactive displays let little engineers control trains with the push of a button, and there are train tables where kids can build their own track layouts. There is a dinosaur playroom which is so interesting for toddlers or babies, they can be little rangers or paleontologist or puzzle solvers. Each corner has something to offer to kids and their imagination. The following suggestions based on our trip- You can get museum passes from Wenham library, don’t forget to get it in advance, library stays closed on Sundays There is a cozy teashop near the museum for some treats for kids Enough parking available Food and drinks are not allowed inside the museum, but there is plenty of space outside the museum to have snacks and there is a model train for kids to play Best for kids...

I love this museum. It is a small museum, but is excellent for little ones as well as all ages. The downstairs area offers a few model train layouts in one room and a pretend play area in the next room. The upstairs area has train layouts as well, but also offers a different monthly exhibit based on a historical period. There’s also a pretend play area with a beautiful antique dollhouse. You can also tour a part of the original house which existed before it became the museum. The price is great and they offer multiple discount options. The staff is also a really...