The House of the Seven Gables

Never read the book, but looked interesting, my wife had wanted to go. The tour guide was very knowledgeable in the story, the home, architecture, Hawthorne and his lineage and she made the tour very enjoyable. The grounds are beautiful and also very interesting. One great thing I never knew was the effort to help people gain legal citizenship through classes which also help teach English. Really great to know money from my tour goes to this. A wonderful cause.

The House of the Seven Gables is one of Salem’s crown jewels - part museum, part literary landmark, part seaside retreat. It’s always busy, especially during peak Halloween season, so it’s best to reserve tickets in advance if you want to tour the interior. Even if tours are sold out, don’t skip it: the reduced-fare grounds ticket (around $15) is still a great value. It grants access to the scenic property, the gift shop, the restrooms, the Hawthorne birth home, and some of the outlying buildings, plus the stunning waterfront area. Between the historic architecture, the sea breeze, and the view of the harbor, it’s a peaceful escape from downtown’s chaos. The guided tour of the main Gables house is a highlight as it’s informative without being dry, blending stories of the real Turner family with Hawthorne’s inspiration for his classic novel. Walking through the low-ceilinged rooms, antique furnishings, and especially climbing the narrow hidden staircase tucked inside the walls is a thrill for any history or literature lover. The guides do an excellent job of capturing both the historical and literary importance of the site while keeping things engaging for visitors of all ages. The self-guided Hawthorne birth home, meanwhile, is smaller but equally fascinating, displaying authentic period furniture and personal items tied to Hawthorne’s family. The grounds themselves are worth lingering in. Between the gardens, cobblestone paths, and panoramic views of the waterfront, there’s no shortage of photo opportunities or places to simply sit and take in the atmosphere. On warm days, the wind coming off the water makes it a perfect spot to cool down and relax before heading back toward the bustle of Essex Street. The gift shop deserves its own mention too, stocked with locally inspired books, literary souvenirs, and even games that tie into Salem’s history. Whether you’re there for Hawthorne, colonial history, or just the coastal New England charm, the House of the Seven Gables absolutely lives up to its legend.

Purchase tickets in advance!! There are a lot of stairs with some being very narrow. Low ceilings as well just FYI. Definitely worth it though. Amazing experience! It was wonderful tour full of information an surprises! Parking is included with your tour ticket. You can park about 20 mins prior to your tour time and stay for 1 hour after your tour ends.

We visited the House of The Seven Gables for the first time this week and were absolutely blown away!! Our tour guide, Stephen, was extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. His delivery of information about the history of the grounds and house was engaging and entertaining!! We absolutely loved the experience. Climbing up the hidden staircase was thrilling, as was just taking in the scenic views from the second floor rooms. The tour was lovely, the front desk, gift shop, and other staff members were accommodating and friendly. We would love to return, perhaps in the autumn or winter, but I can imagine that it is perfect at any time of year.

This was a treat for me being that I read the book. Its a very neat tour and a very cool house and the grounds are SPECTACULAR. It has very little to do with the Salem Witches though. If you like old buildings and historical feeling things, this may be worth it for you. If you skip the house tour your won't be missing anything truly relevant to the trials or Halloween. I do recommend the grounds tour though. Especially if you love a majestic view. The pictures I took do not do it justice. Also, no ghosts were felt or spotted during the tour.

Cool tour. If you are into early American history, or literature you'll love this tour. This is a house built in the early 1600's and has survived and been restored over the years. A relative of the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, was a famous American author and visiting this house and listening to his aunt tell him stories of growing up in this house inspired him to write the House of the Seven Gables novel. Has rooms restored to the time period, and original antique furniture and home pieces. The coolest part is a secret stairway that goes behind the fireplace up to the attic. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable.

We went in September and the gardens were in bloom and it was not crowded. Our guide made our experience very enjoyable. The gift shop has item such as tee shirts saying I survived the secret staircase. For seniors admission five dollars less. I am not sure but the proceeds go towards the economy of the town of Salem. There is a lot of walking to be done but there are benches in places. There are great views of the water to.

It was a great experience and our tour guild was informative and funny. My only issue is they gave you a map of the grounds but not the inside of the house so i felt a little lost in the house. But overall a good visit.

This was awesome. My wife and I were in Salem for the tour on October 6, 2025. Jeff was freaking amazing as a tour guide. He was a great public speaker and so knowledgeable! I would so do this again the next time we get back to Salem!

Buying a ticket for the group tour is worth it! Remember, if you go in October, there's a sale date in September. If you wait, all tickets will be sold out. After the tour with a guide, you're allowed to explore the grounds. Tip: if you don't want to wear your coat around, they do have a coat rack.

My train was delayed, so I ended up missing my tour by 15 minutes. Although the staff told me it was possible to join if you were within 15 minutes of the tour time, by the time I got to the ticket desk, it was a few minutes too late, and they were strict and unfortunately wouldn't allow me to join. Otherwise I was able to wander the garden/grounds and explore the other smaller houses which were also beautiful, peaceful, historic, and informative. Although many parts of Salem were already insanely crowded with many lines outside, the grounds were not too crowded when I went in the morning on a Saturday in October. I probably spent about 45 minutes visiting the grounds.

We did not take a tour but just from the outside of this place, it's cool. We were in a hurry to be somewhere else. Maybe, next time. I think the outside of the area is nice. I just love the bold black color!

So here is the thing. I understand the history. But 15 dollars, per person, just to walk the garden... No sorry. We did the Paul Revere house and it was 12 for the whole experience. I just wanted one picture to send to my nana, because this was her favorite book, but the doorman wouldn't let us use the bathroom, go into the gift shop, or anything, without paying. That's crazy. I don't understand how these people(attraction companies in general) think their house or property is worth an insane entrance fee, and then want me to spend money in the gift shop too. NO! go down the road on the left side, and you can get pictures of the house without paying. I'm not saying you should, but seems like a pretty easy fence to hop in the back there too

My first visit here was in my twenties and I wanted my kids to see the charm and hear the history of the house. All of these years later the tour has become more inclusive and informative including facts about the enslaved that lived in the home and an indigenous battle that the homeowner had been involved. If visiting I definitely recommend upgrading to the mansion tour and not just the grounds. There are some very narrow staircases, and the rooms can be tight. The grounds are beautiful overlooking the bay from a garden. The gift shop is well curated even with a Salem monopoly. Just a short walk from Essex and well worth a visit.

This was such a great place to take kiddos. We spent the afternoon here on the last leg of our trip. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and I appreciate the fact that they don't try to bypass the suffering that was endured here by some of its past inhabitants. The grounds were beautiful and the front desk was awesome. The woman in the front desk gave us a few discounts because my daughter's in college and I'm a first responder which was nice. We had an amazing experience and it was nice to finally see it in person

We were able to attend the garden tour. The grounds were beautifully up-kept. There is an audio tour, which can be played from one's phone. This museum is right on the water. Would recommend for a historic stroll.

I visited The House of the Seven Gables somewhat on a whim. I didn't do much research before I arrived but pulled into the parking lot and figured I'd just find out what the deal is. The sign on the door said that tours were booked until noon. I arrived at 11:45. The person at the front desk was great. She walked me through the options and property. I opted to join the 1:00 pm tour. I spent the next 40ish minutes doing the free audio tour of the other sites on the property. I used my airpods and my phone which made it really easy to go from spot to spot. The preservation efforts are interesting. I spent the rest of the time reading in the gardens until it was time for the tour. The tour of the house was excellent and I highly recommend it. The history is fantastic and I appreciated how different rooms are staged as different periods of time in the home's history. The guide was charismatic and engaging. The secret staircase was really narrow. I can now say that historic bricks ripped my pants a little big. A badge of honor to be sure. I spent a bit more time in Salem and I think this is the best attraction in time.

Very informative, and Isabella made the tour fun and interactive. I would definitely recommend checking out the House of the Seven Gables if you have a free hour when in Salem.

If you are a Nathaniel Hawthorne fan, or just enjoy viewing and appreciating older homes architecture, the House of Seven Gabels is a must visit. This historical landmark was probably my favorite place to visit and see in Salem. The house is beautifully preserved, and it has such a wonderful story behind it. We visited the Salem area with our small dog. The house and grounds are not pet friendly, so we found a lovely waterfront bench that's accessible to the public located offgrounds but just to the left of the House of Seven Gabels. We took turns sitting with our small dog while the other went to tour. You can still admire the exterior of the house and grounds from the public bench along with a gorgeous waterview. The entire visit was so relaxed, peaceful, and filled with SO much fascinating history and beautiful scenery. We also appreciated the complimentary and convenient parking lot that's dedicated for the House of Seven Gabels visitors. Definitely stop by if you're in Salem.

We took a tour here the other day and I thought it was absolutely fantastic. The girl who did our tour was wonderful and you can truly tell she loved her job and enjoyed talking about the history of each room in the mansion. The tour was long enough where we were able to thoroughly learn about the house but short enough where it didn't just drag on unnecessarily. The grounds were also beautiful and well kept. It's one of the pricier tours in Salem but worth every penny. This should definitely be on the top of your list if you are visiting the area.

Very informative tour guide. He was very informative and kind. Definitely a ton of interesting items to see. Very quiet gift shop.

Lots of history in this tour. Starting back in the 1600s through the 1900's. Interesting to learn how the house has been renovated over the years and also the restoration process that took place for tours beginning in the early 1900's. . Even though Nathaniel Hawthorne never actually lived in the house, his book is based on it. His birthplace home is also on the property. If you enjoy this tour, make sure to stop and see the houses the National Park Service has open for tours in the area (they're free too!). The homes are full of interesting stories and the park staff is very well versed in their history. We really enjoyed going through them.

Great experience with a very knowledgable and engaging tour guide. She was great at storytelling as well as respecting the historical facts and people. The tour is about 45 minutes long and ends in the back part of the house that offers a very picturesque view of the water. Another plus is that they offer free 2 hour parking with your tour in their lot, which was rather large.

Such an interesting structure!! Our tour guide, Evian, was amazing! - Incredibly knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. Highly recommend!

Amazing tour! The tour guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the house and made it very interesting. We even got to see a secret staircase in the house!

Very cool to visit! I would highly suggest doing the tour so you can feel the full property. This area is very walkable so this is an easy stop on your visit to Salem.

We're members. Historical, Beautiful Garden & Lawn, Staff is very helpful, a variety of events that have had Food Truck/s and then complimentary ESL Classes. Suggestion: Moving forward would be very helpful if administration review to add immersion classes for those us that speak only English, interested in learning a second language too.

An amazing experience! The House of the Seven Gables is full of history, charm, and stunning architecture. The tour was super informative, and the staff was friendly and passionate about the story behind the house. The secret staircase was a highlight--and the views of the harbor are beautiful. Definitely a must-see if you're in Salem!

LOVED this historical home tour. Gardens are gorgeous, history is fascinating, all the ties to Nathaniel Hawthorne were fascinating and the tour guide was great. I also appreciated / loved the settlement house aspect and history. The people who work here also seem to love it and love their jobs, the enthusiasm was infectious. Best thing we did in Salem!

I won tickets to come here at the Massachusetts welcome center and finally got a chance to go. I was nervous about parking but they have a whole parking lot. You can take a 45 minute tour of the house of seven gables, but there are other spaces you can do a self guided tour. Gorgeous garden overlooking the water and a gift store. You could easily spend an afternoon here. Definitely come in the spring and summer to get the best of the garden.

This is the first tour we took in Salem. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. If you love history, old houses, literature...don't miss this tour when you're in Salem. Be prepared for some wonky staircases. The "secret" staircase is tricky even for folks who don't have mobility issues.

When researching places to visit in Salem, The House of the Seven Gables came up as one of the top spots on many a list. I don't consider myself the biggest history buff, but I wanted to see as much as I could in Salem and this seemed like a great place to absorb a little knowledge. That being said, I made plans to visit during my time in the city. HoSG is located somewhat away from the main commercial hub of Salem - it's closer to the harbor and the grounds provide excellent views of the water. You can purchase tickets that include a mansion tour and access to the grounds, or just for the grounds. I would recommend purchasing tickets in advance as mansion tour tickets were sold out for the day when I arrived. They have parking for those visiting, though if you're spending the day in the city it's probably better to park it in a garage and walk over. The HoSG has a rich history, and is most famous for being turned into a museum and modeled after the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The House of the Seven Gables. In addition to the mansion, the grounds are also home to the house where Hawthorne was born (this part of the tour is self-guided), as well as a gift shop (also housed in a historic building) and beautiful gardens. I have admittedly never read the novel, so I can't say how the mansion itself compares to what is depicted in the book. My favorite part of the tour was being able to climb through a secret passageway from one floor to the other - I need to install one of those where I live. Our tour guide was pretty good, she was knowledgable and answered all our questions. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at the HoSG - it may not be one of the "witchy" attractions in Salem, but it's a staple of the city and definitely worth checking out.

We wondered around the town of Salem a little mesmerized by the amount of witch hats we saw in the streets. Whilst alot of people go to Salem to experience or learn more about The Witch Trails, we were searching for other things to do in Salem. We found Nathaniel Hawthorne's, The House of the Seven Gables and quickly booked a tour. Our tour guide, Jennifer, was very knowledgeable and personable. We were able to do a quick self-tour of the garden before starting the actual tour. We were then transported into the world of Nathaniel Hawthorne and witnessed the inspiration that result in his book. Part of the tour also included exploration of the home he was born in. I think the tour is worth the money- as you get access to the Seven Gables House, which otherwise you won't be able to access.

What a great opportunity to witness history. The tour is wonderful, and the gift shop is one of the finest in Salem. I definitely think Zoey is a great asset to the staff.

I believe this is one of the best stores in Salem that they have! All the history about Nathaniel Hawthorne, and all of the people that lived in on her house and the construction of the house and it was just wonderful and Meg our guide was over the top excellent! Highly recommended!!

Wonderful experience just make sure you get a good tour guide to make it full lots of rich history in the town of Salem

Lovely house and furnishings, knowledgeable guides, but a tour that made us feel a bit like we were cattle being rushed through the house so that the next group could come in. maybe some days are busier than others. Highly recommended in any case!

This was a delightful tour of the infamous house with many insider scoop tidbits about the house and Hawthornes book! Our tour guide was engaging and knowledgeable. So glad I took this tour.

Beautiful property. Interesting history. The number of people allowed on the tours is too much because the rooms are small and everyone gets crowded in together. The tour guide makes all the difference and ours wasn't great.

Josie was an EXCEPTIONAL tour guide! Very knowledgeable about the history of the house & a WONDERFUL storyteller!!! I was so entertained that I forgot to take pictures! Josie also did a wonderful job integrating some of the dark parts of history into the tour. Josie, you left us with something to think about! We appreciate all of your hard work! This was definitely more than a tour... it was an experience!

Great stop on the historic trail of Salem. Parking is included & right out front. The tour guide we had was amazing! Very attentive & responded to all questions very professionally. Surprised to learn she'd only been doing the tours for four months! You could tell she was invested & interested in the tour & enjoys her job! Thank you Emily, great job!

Where fiction meets reality, The seven house of gables is a place that transcends the time barrier. Located at harbor, guests are ushered into a different era upon entering. The property is well kept and tour provides an everlasting history lesson that has endured over the centuries. Definitely an experience worth trying while in Salem.

This is a must see in Salem. It goes back to 1668 when it was built by John Turner and his wife Elizabeth Robinson Turner. The tour we took was extremely educational and an eye opener. The grounds are gorgeous as well. If I'm ever back in Salem I will definitely return.

amazing place to visit. steeped in history and every where you walk there is an amazing story. we do the tour every year and never get bored.

Great tour of main house, plus self guided tours of multiple other houses on the grounds. Right on the ocean and the day was very pleasant. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. The hidden staircase is my favorite part of the tour.

Once your friends find out you're headed to Salem, someone will invariably announce that you simply MUST visit the House of the Seven Gables! So we did... Sadly, truth is stranger than fiction, and this house did not in any way resemble the home from the novel, that is until an enterprising woman named Caroline Emmerton bought the place, and recognizing the allure of a historical reference so close to home, remodeled it to resemble the house in the book and started charging for tours... How's the tour? It's an old house. Still being refurbished, so the tour is basically lots of old wood. A secret staircase (added by a subsequent owner around 1917) promises to test the resolve of anyone with claustrophobia or bad knees. Lots of kids too young to have ever heard of the book, the author, or the house, being forced to go through the tour because their parents v brought them to Salem not realizing there's really nothing here for younger children.

This is not the most amazing place I've ever been been, but it's worthwhile. There is a self guided tour and a docent tour, and I took the docent tour. I took the docent tour (a little steep at 20 dollars, but still worth it). I took the 4 PM tour and it was just me and one add on attendee, so that was great! Our docent (I think her name is Kayla, I'm so sorry if I got that wrong) was very kind and knowledgeable. We also met Holly, another employee of the site, and she was super nice and accommodating! I've read other reviews talking about how nice the team is here, and they all appear to be true! Kayla made sure to take her time and answer any questions. She pointed out architecture, idiosyncrasies of the house, and helped us connect the house to Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel of the same name as well as the more recent decades of philanthropy. It was interesting to learn about the families who had lived there, how society was during each their tenure in the home. The way one owner added certain things to the house just to match the novel. The way various families added, took away, and re-added gables. The home itself is beautiful, with a gorgeous view of the water. I'm sure it's even better when the gardens bloom. There is parking on-site and a great little pub down the road for a meal before or after (reviewed separately). Summary: not the most amazing thing I've ever done, but fun history, beautiful home, gorgeous views, and a wonderful, kind staff. Easy to make part of a whole day spent in Salem. Five stars and worth a visit.

I visited here in 2019 and loved it. It is not your typical museum and I enjoyed learning about Nathaniel Hawthorne even though he was a seriously flawed person. The story of how they created this attraction, and the multiple topics you can learn about while you're there, makes it a great pick for the entire family. Just know that a lot of this museum is not wheelchair, walker or stroller accessible.

While in Salem, this was my first museum stop. And by far the best one because of this tour, I learned a lot more history about the witch trial. But also, it's incredible how this is one of the few homes in Salem that deep back to the 1600s! A gorgeous, gorgeous property with a beautiful view. Our tour guide was amazing and answering all our questions about the property and just giving us a phenomenal tour. If you're in Salem, you have to stop at this museum. if you're looking for a quick grab and go the names but you can't miss it. It's also walking distance from the downtown of Salem, maybe a 15 minute walk. I believe you could do a self tour, but the experience will not be the same as having a tour guide. What I love? Also is the gift shop that they have are like no other in museum in Salem.

11/11/2021 Plenty of free parking at this attraction. If you like history or read the book by Nathaniel Hawthorne then this is a must have. Our tour guide was amazing. He was through and friendly. He explained how the history and book were merged to create this amazing tour. The grounds were beautiful with an amazing view of the water. This is an attraction I definitely recommend

This is one of my favorite houses in Salem and the tour is very interesting. Love hearing all about the structure and the history of house and occupants. The guides are very knowledgeable-highly recommend this tour,

The tour guide was amazing. And he told us about all of the different history moments in the house. Also he took us up the secret staircase

The property was beautiful and well maintained. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and very informative.

Lovely museum tucked away by the wharf of Salem. I tried reading the novel, but Nathaniel Hawthorne's writing style bores me to tears. Nonetheless, still unique to hear about the lifestyle back then. There's a garden with house tours plus free parking which is a plus. Surrounding homes are charming. Wish I had more time to stroll around, this part of town made me feel like I was in New England calendar or puzzle design..very picturesque!

It was interesting to learn about the history of the house of the seven gables as well as the other structures on the property. The grounds are magnificent, the gardens and the view overlooking the harbor. Our tour guide was informative and didn't rush. It is true that the staircase in the house is extremely small, but as you climb up you just have to be cautious.

Walked by for a visit. Planned to see it today as we leave Boston/Salem this pm. Website yesterday and again today showed that they stayed open until 4 pm. We were there an hour ago (1315 on Tuesday 12 Dec) and door locked, no signs indicating a closure that I could see, and well dressed workers inside and then we were told not open today or most of this week. Very disappointing that in the age of websites they completely failed to warn potential visitors about a closing. Oh, and the same gentleman who told us "no" was showing two folks around outside 15 minutes later.

If you have any kind of mobility issues or you are claustrophobic, you DO NOT want to do the full tour (The staff do a horrible job of telling people that when you first walk up) Do the grounds only. You will get to go into the red house and you get the "just" of the tour. Plus you can look up the history or the house yourself.. I found the ladies at the front office kinda rude, they seemed annoyed to be there and just not helpful. Our tour guide was really nice. Also if you have a wedding there, they do not close it down so strangers can walk into your wedding.