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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Salem

20 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Salem, Massachusetts

Updated January 13, 2026
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Explore Salem, Massachusetts

Witches 6
Homes 4
Houses 4
Architecture 3
Witchcraft 3
History & Culture 3
Collections 2
Memorials 2

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Stories About Salem

Christopher Lee as Lord Summerisle.

The Greatest Witch Movie Ever Made

Why do modern witches embrace "The Wicker Man"?
by Pat Cassels

Were the Salem Witch Trials Ruff on Dogs?

The 17th-century event claimed at least 25 human lives. Whether any dogs were killed is unclear—but accusations against them had a familiar theme.
by Bridget Marshall
George Jacobs, whose witchcraft trial is shown here in Thomkins H. Matteson’s 1855 painting, was one of 19 people hanged as a witch during the 1692 Salem witch trials.

The Salem Witch Trials Actually Happened in Danvers, Massachusetts

Tensions between Salem and Danvers were there from the start—contributing to the ensuing witch hysteria.
by Theresa McKinney
These eggs see all.

The Long, Extremely Witchy History of Telling the Future With Eggs

From ancient Greece to the Salem Witch Trials.
by Diana Hubbell
A witch cake from the village of Bempton, which collector William Clarke dated to 1850.

Remembering ‘Witch Cakes,’ the Evil-Fighting Baked Goods of the 1600s

Are these cakes weapons against dark forces or just “spiky bagels”?
by Sam O'Brien
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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