Jason M.
Yelp
When researching places to visit in Salem, the Witch House consistently came up as a top attraction. This makes sense - it's the Witch City so of course this would be a natural spot for tourists to flock to. I had a few things on my itinerary to see while in the city, so I made plans to check this place out before heading back to Boston.
Even though it's called the Witch House, it's somewhat of a misnomer as witches did not live here. Rather, this was the home of Jonathan Corwin - one of the judges in the Salem Witch Trials. That's really where the "witch house" name comes from, as it's the only structure still standing that has direct ties to the trials. I think this fact leads to the somewhat polarizing opinions of the house, as many people come in expecting that witches resided here.
While it's relatively easy to get a picture in front of the house, it's tougher to book a reservation to go inside. Reservations can only be made same day, and open on Eventbrite at 8am in 10-minute slots. I was on the app right at 8am, and still it took about 5 tries for me to secure a reservation - they go fast so I would definitely recommend booking a slot as soon as they open.
I arrived at the house shortly before my reservation time - you enter in the back of the house which logistically makes sense as the front always has crowds snapping pics. Upon entry you're immediately greeted by the gift shop where we had a chance to pick up some merch before heading into the exhibit areas of the house. The house is self-guided and split into two levels - in each room there are different displays and texts to help put everything into context. There are also staff members on each floor who are available to answer questions.
While I thought the house was interesting, I'm not convinced that the juice is worth the squeeze here. I got more out of other attractions in Salem that were much easier to secure reservations for. Don't get me wrong - the historical significance of this house is massive, but I think the execution could have been better. Putting the gift shop up front naturally makes you less prone to make a purchase, and even with that there was a poor selection. I also think having a guided tour would have helped me learn more about the house. I realize, though, the house itself creates structural and logistical limitations.
If you can snag a reservation here I would definitely jump on the chance to visit the Witch House. If not, I wouldn't sweat it - snap a pic outside and carry on.