Many people associate the city with the Salem Witch Trials of
1692 and the city certainly cashes in on it, both as a source of
tourism and culture. The police cars are adorned with witch
logos, a local public school is known as the Witchcraft Heights
Elementary School and the Salem high school is named The
Witches.
First on the list of places to see was the Salem Witch Museum. They have a really well done presentation explaining what happened back in 1692. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings between February 1692 and May 1693 to prosecute people accused of witchcraft. Over 150 people were arrested and imprisoned. Of these, 29 people were convicted of capital felony of witchcraft, with 19 of the accused (14 women and 5 men) being hanged. One man refused to enter a plea and was crushed to death under heavy stones. At least five more died in prison.
