John O.
Yelp
Being the 600th review, it is an appropriate choice. As with all things 2020 there is little to do because of social distancing and the shutdowns, altering life in ways I couldn't have imagine a year ago. Yet here we are. Opportunities such as a visit to the PEM helps to allow activities to partake in, otherwise it's quarantine at home and the occasional venture out to a restaurant while outdoors. As the weather changes and it starts becoming cooler, this last option will be less appealing.
As we arrive to the front door, we are asked if we are from outside New England. If the answer is no, we can proceed forward. Then it's further screening questions. With satisfactory answers, you can proceed forward to the desk to purchase your tickets. We bought general admission, then tickets to the Salem Witch Trials exhibit and Salem Stories exhibit.
We were able to see the museum in a day's time, with exception to the Yin Yu Tang home and one of the exhibit sections. We were growing tired with sore soles, and decided to leave an hour early for the restaurant in the Salem Sound Square before the dinner rush.
The Salem Witch Trials Exhibit was timed, and you had approximately 1 hour. This was not enough time, as there was much to read. Most of the exhibit were documents, but to see primary sources from the Witch Trials of 1692 was fascinating. I could have spent the day in this one exhibit, absorbing everything before me. There are several artifacts from chests, a halberd, a door and windows from one of the first Salem Homes. However, to see boards from the Salem Jail which held the accused, was chilling. Such simple objects were a part of such misery, many do not realize that several people died in the jails while waiting to finish their own trials. They were not convicted but nonetheless, victims of the hysteria.
There is so much more to this museum. Salem was a major trade hub for America. Memories of my father telling me anecdotes about salem ship building and trade; there were so many ships from Salem in Chinese ports of trade, that the Chinese thought Salem was a country. Salem was a major shipbuilding port also, after the revolution sailors and shipowners created trade routes across the world, bringing world goods to American shores. This history is forgotten, it had contributed to the building of Salem (just walk through the McIntire district with the Federal style mansions). The rest of the museum is a reminder of this history, this is what made Salem what it is today.
The staff are friendly and helpful, courteous. The museum is clean. With social distancing requirements, the museum can be a bit if a maze as traffic is being tightly directed. One exhibit, the Fashion and Design, was accessable through either an elevator, or you had to go a certain direction through several exhibits. A staff member resigned to us that it was easier to guide visitors themselves rather than attempt with giving directions.
