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Joshua Ward House

Joshua Ward House: Our most recommended tours and activities

Salem: Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl

1. Salem: Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl

Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Come sip Salem’s best brews and potions on this history-packed pub crawl of the Witch City. You’ll meet your seasoned US Ghost Adventures guide at Turner’s Seafood, where a mysterious woman in white haunts the dining room. From there, you’ll wind through seven other spooky, historic locations, including four pubs. Delve into the story of a jealous and murderous sea captain at Rockafellas. Mingle with the spirits of Mercy Tavern, where sailors disappeared into secret underground tunnels — never to be seen again. You’ll head home with a pleasant buzz and plenty of tantalizing stories to entertain friends and family.

Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Audio Tour

2. Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Audio Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Note: This 4+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Salem in 1-2 hours. Join a spooky self-guided tour that will help you to explore Salem's past and learn about the events that took place there. Explore some of the town's most notable landmarks and places connected to the famous witch trials. Along the way, there are plenty of optional detours available for those looking for a little more. The experience begins at the Salem Armory. From there, walk to the 1692 Memorial, where the victims of the witch panic are memorialized. Get to know many of the key figures who found themselves swept up by the plague of fear and paid the ultimate price. Next, you’ll see the Old Burying Point, where many of the trials’ victims and aggressors were laid to rest. Listen to the tragically heroic tale of Giles Corey as you walk through the gravestones, a man who refused to bow to the nightmare overtaking his town and was immortalized in The Crucible. After that, you’ll pass by some of Salem’s spookiest architecture, including the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. You’ll also hear of the secret tunnels which run beneath some of these buildings, many of which still exist to this day. Continue on past the old jailhouse, where innocent people were subjected to cruelty so terrible that some suggest their spirits never really left. You'll hear about Hollywood’s many forays into Salem, including hits like Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. Pass by the Witch Museum on your way back and hear about how all the madness finally came to an end. The final stop brings you to the Salem Common, where the tour wraps up with some things you probably didn’t know about the aftermath of the trials.

Salem: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

3. Salem: Self-Guided Ghost Tour

Walk Salem's spooky streets on a smartphone-guided ghost tour. Listen to professionally narrated stories and discover unnerving legends as you make your way to some of Salem's most haunted locations. Charged smartphone in hand, set out on a ghoulish tour that takes you to eerie sites like the Witch House, the Salem Inn, the Salem Witch Trial Memorial, and many more. Hear stories about the lady in blue, the underground tunnels, the ghost of the strangler, and others. This tour is app-based and uses GPS navigation, guiding you turn by turn to the most haunted locations in Salem. Go at your own pace and take the tour at any time, even exploring the city during the witching hour if you like.

Boston: Salem Witch Trials & Freedom Trail Self-Guided Tour

4. Boston: Salem Witch Trials & Freedom Trail Self-Guided Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one. Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Once downloaded, you can begin your tour either in Salem or in Boston. In Boston, you’ll start either at Bunker Hill or in the heart of Boston Common, dating back to 1634! Hear about the Stamp Act riots of 1765 as you begin your walk along the Freedom Trail. Keep moving past the historic Massachusetts State House with its golden dome laid by Paul Revere’s Copper Company! You’ll also hear about America’s first time capsule here, going back to 1795! Learn more about why the British taxed the colonies before the Revolutionary War and then take in the Park Street Church with its stately steeple. Then move onto the Granary Burying Ground and pay tribute to the prominent and courageous figures buried there, such as John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Paul Revere. Up next is King’s Chapel, Boston’s first Anglican church, which features a bell which Paul Revere cast! You’ll then see the Boston Latin School with its statue of one of its most prominent students, Benjamin Franklin! You’ll pass the Old South Meeting House, where the famed Boston Tea Party began. Then, keep striding toward the Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read to Bostonians! In addition, see the stately Faneuil Hall, where colonial Bostonians met to discuss their future and acrimonious debates over the Stamp Act and Tea Act took place! Learn more about the events of the Revolutionary War, including the Second Continental Congress, as well as Paul Revere’s historic ride. You’ll see the Old North Church, site of the famed “one if by land, two if by sea signal.” Conclude your Boston journey at the Bunker Hill Monument, commemorating a pivotal Revolutionary War battle. In Salem, you’ll start at the Salem Visitor Center. Learn about the infamous witch trials at the 1692 Memorial. Reflect on the 19 who perished in an atmosphere of suspicion and madness. Pay visits to an array of historical sites such as the Old Burying Point Cemetery, where the chief judge in the witch trials is buried. See the Old Town Hall, used in the movie Hocus Pocus! Also learn about the town’s famed son, writer Nathaniel Hawthorne! The tour concludes at the House of the Seven Gables, which was the inspiration for one of Hawthorne’s most famed works.

Salem: Witch Trials Self-Guided Walking Tour and Quiz

5. Salem: Witch Trials Self-Guided Walking Tour and Quiz

Learn about the sobering history of Salem at your own pace on a self-guided walking tour. Hear the history of the Salem Witch Trials, visit the Old Burying Point, and find Salem's haunted buildings. Before beginning your tour, download the Action Tour Guide app on your phone to allow easy offline access. Head to the Salem Armory to get started. From there, walk to the 1692 Memorial, which honors the victims of the witch panic. Next, head to the Old Burying Point, the final resting place not only for many of the trials’ victims but also for their persecutors. Walk among the graves and hear the tragic, heroic tale of Giles Corey and others who paid the ultimate price when they refused to go along with the madness. Continue your tour with some of Salem’s spookiest architecture, the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. Learn about the Old Town Hall's secret tunnels, which still exist today. Head to the old jailhouse, where some say the spirits of the confined and tortured innocents remain. Continue through town and spot landmarks featured in Hollywood hits like Hocus Pocus and Bewitched. Next, pass the Witch Museum and learn how the witch trials ended. Finish your tour at the Salem Common and discover the aftermath of the trials and how the town of Salem recovered. As you follow the tour, there are plenty of optional detours available, from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s house to a tavern infamous for 18th-century kidnappings.

Ultimate Boston Self-Guided Walking Tours Bundle

6. Ultimate Boston Self-Guided Walking Tours Bundle

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: Each tour covers essential sights and takes 2-3 hours, over 3+ miles. Start in the city of Boston and walk in the footsteps of Revolutionary War heroes. Hear the story of Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride and relive the fight for American Independence with a self-guided walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Immerse yourself in the stories of the American Revolution, the Boston Tea Party, and the Sons of Liberty as you stroll along Boston’s scenic Harborwalk. Uncover Boston's historic and storied past while enjoying its beautiful harbor views between South Station and Long Wharf. Then, travel to the city of Cambridge outside Boston and explore the heart of Harvard University's campus at Harvard Square. Use the app to take a self-guided walking tour that covers must-see campus sights like the John Harvard Statue, Widener Library, and former dorm rooms of famous alumni like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Natalie Portman, and more. Next, discover Cape Ann with a self-guided driving tour along the scenic waterfront. Enjoy the vistas, beaches, and natural beauty of the New England coastline at your own pace. Visit the famous Fisherman's Memorial, beautiful Beauport, all while diving into the stories of Massachusetts of days past. Shifting the scene to Salem, begin at the Salem Visitor Center. Learn about the Salem Witch Trials at the dedicated memorial and the Old Burying Point Cemetery. Stop by historic spots like the Old Town Hall, the Joshua Ward House, and Gedney House. Marvel at the Witch House and end your tour at The House of the Seven Gables, immersing yourself in the haunting history of Salem's Witch Trials.

Discover Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Tour

7. Discover Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials Self-Guided Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: This 4+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Salem in 1-2 hours. Salem Armory and trace the footsteps of a time when witch panic gripped this town. First, you’ll pause at the 1692 Memorial, paying respects to the victims whose names became synonymous with fear. Know the pivotal figures and their tragic fates. Walk to the Old Burying Point next. Amidst centuries-old graves, hear of Giles Corey's brave defiance, a man immortalized in "The Crucible". His story, like many others, is a testament to the trials' chilling legacy. You’ll then wander past eerie landmarks like the Joshua Ward House and the Old Town Hall. These aren’t just architectural marvels; they bear tales of secret tunnels underneath, remnants of a bygone era, with some still lurking in shadows. The old jailhouse stands next, echoing whispers of the innocents who faced unspeakable horrors. Rumor has it, some never left. As you ponder their fates, recognize familiar sites and tales of Hollywood's renditions - think "Hocus Pocus" and "Bewitched". They all draw inspiration from this very ground. Onward, the Witch Museum awaits, chronicling the trials' climax and end. Finally, the Salem Common offers a reflective stop, revealing aftermath tales and revelations. For the curious souls, detour options include Nathaniel Hawthorne’s residence and a notorious 18th-century tavern. Embark on this immersive journey and unravel Salem’s darkest chapters.

Salem: HP Lovecraft Connection Walking Tour with a Guide

8. Salem: HP Lovecraft Connection Walking Tour with a Guide

Experience the beauty of the city of Salem on a guided walking tour. See the famous places like the Witch House, Derby House, and many more. Learn about the stories that inspired horror writer HP Lovecraft. HP Lovecraft was a writer who delved into the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He came to Salem several times and used the homes, buildings, and the 1692 witchcraft trials as inspiration for some of his fantastic tales. During the tour, you will visit the Crowninshield-Bentley House, the building which inspired The Thing on The Doorstep story. See the Witch House, used for his The Dreams of the Witch House, and the location of the Old Victorian Train Station that he thoroughly loved. Visit the Charter Street Cemetery that was the setting for his story The Unnamable, Images of the Danvers State Hospital that he called the Arkham Sanitarium, and general areas of Salem that he named Arkham in his books. You will learn how Salem influenced many of his writings and how he references Salem in his books. 

Other Sightseeing Options in Joshua Ward House

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What people are saying about Joshua Ward House

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 176 reviews

We travel with our 2 dogs and 2 teens, so this tour was awesome. We got to go at our own pace and we felt that the information level was perfect!

Great self guided tour! We followed along and stopped to the side to listen to the descriptions. Even had people asking us about our tour.

Audio guía que funciona sin internet. Me ha encantado visitar Salem a mi ritmo utilizando esta actividad. recomendable

We actually did tour via our car. It worked great and highly recommend it.

It was a great adventure! Listened in spanish an it was awesome