Follow along on a guided walk through Salem’s maritime history. This walk begins at the Peabody Essex Museum at 161 Essex Street and finishes at The House of the Seven Gables, covering ? miles.
Start at the Peabody Essex Museum
In 1799, the East India Marine Society was founded as an organization of Salem captains and supercargoes. Under the organization’s provisional charter, which called for the establishment of a “cabinet of natural and artificial curiosities,” the Peabody Essex Museum was formed.
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If you plan to visit the museum, be sure to reserve tickets online and confirm hours prior to your visit at pem.org.
Exit the museum and walk down New Liberty Street then take a left on Church Street stopping at St. Peter’s Church (on your right)
St. Peter’s Church was the first Anglican church in Salem founded in 1733/34. The church’s original structure along with its replacement, the facade you see today, was built on land donated by Philip English, a wealthy Salem trading merchant.
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From the church, continue down Church Street, and take a left onto Washington Street, stopping outside of Salem’s City Hall (on your left)
Salem’s City Hall was constructed in the Greek Revival style in 1838, and today is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its connection to maritime history comes into play with the Salem City Seal (which you can see on the exterior of the City Hall Annex building across the street).
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Continue down Washington Street stopping by The Merchant (on your left)
What today is one of Salem’s historic boutique hotels was once the home of merchant Joshua Ward (in the late 1780s). While not one of Salem’s wealthiest merchants, Ward had amassed a “small” fortune from importing molasses, Sumatran pepper, tea, spices, silk, and more to construct an opulent home close enough to the harbor so that he could see his ships coming in.
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Stop for lunch
Restaurants nearby The Merchant include:
- Adriatic Restaurant: Right across the street, offering Mediterranean dishes with homemade pasta, flatbreads, and fresh seafood
- Rockafellas: On Washington Street to your left, with burgers, sandwiches, and salads, plus flatbreads and chowder
- Koto: On Washington Street across from City Hall for sushi, ramen, Chinese and Japanese entrees, and bubble tea