Curses and Crimes Candlelight Tour

Overview

This tour is only given by Krystina, a historian specializing in the history of witchcraft that has presented academically both nationally and internationally.

This tour will talk about the darker side of Salem's history: the reality of the witch trials (both within and out of Salem), the Old Witch Gaol, the old County Jail, and the victims of the Salem witch trials.

This is an adult tour. We will discuss injustice, true crime, deaths, executions, the history of witch trials and mistreatment of individuals of various races, religions, and genders. I am not doing so with the intention of being obscene or extreme in any way, nor am I doing it for shock value. It is simply my passion to tell the history as close to reality as I can. I look forward to sharing the darker side of this beautiful city with you.

Prepare for your trip in advance by listening to my podcast Effed Up History!

City: Salem

Sun 20 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

Sun 20 Apr

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (175) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (252) Entry Tickets (96) Sporting Events (4) Good for Small Groups (27) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (113) Walking Tours (705) Outdoor Activities (48) Limitied Availability Tours (29) LGBT Friendly Tours (9) Family-friendly Activities (8) Wildlife Activities (6) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (96) Travelers recommend (174) Good for Groups (32) Top Activities (75) Guided Audio Tours (10) Art, Culture & History (406) Attractions to explore (43) Sustainable Tours (1) Limousine Transfers (5) Donut Walking Tour (2) Virtual Experiences (1) Additional fees (7) DSA non-compliant (17)

What's Included

History Information

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

The Witch House at Salem

WE WILL NOT BE ENTERING

Salem Witch Trials Memorial

Here we will end our tour talking about the witch trials and some other information about the victims.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (55)

emilyaF1277LY

May 2022

My stepdad was a huge history buff, and half of my childhood was listening to him share important pieces of history for us to think about in our own time. It means so much when someone else can do the same. Krystina is extremely passionate about this era and it’s reflected throughout the entire tour. She made the tour feel personalized and engaging. Would be happy to go on any tour that she is a guide for! Thank you for such a great experience Krystina! :)

Response from Host

May 2022

Thank you so much! I so enjoyed your group and all the amazing questions and conversations along the way. Thank you so much for you kind words, y'all are always welcome back with me!

Diana_K

Nov 2021

We did not see ANY historical monuments. We went to places where everything had been torn down and rebuilt with modern structures. We lost our tour for a full segment of the tour, AND we could hardly hear the guides stories >> even with her microphone. We now understand why it’s the least expensive tour on the Salem agenda.

Response from Host

May 2022

Hi! I'm not understanding how we didn't visit historical monuments when we went to the Witch House (built in the 1640s), First Church of Salem (built in 1629), the Old Salem Jail (built in the 1800s),and we walked right up to the Witch Trials monument which is right next to Old Burying Point, the second oldest cemetery in the United States. I can't control that Old Witch Gaol was torn down in the 1950s; that Bridget Bishop's home and orchards were also torn down and replaced by Lyceum Hall, originally built in 1831, which is now a restaurant; and that due to the crowds Halloween weekend I didn't want to risk the safety of our group to go into crowded Essex Street to look at the Gardner Pingree Mansion built in 1804 (but I did give a lot of information about it and suggested that groups should explore it individually). From what I gathered observing other tours, these are all popular stops on many tours in Salem. I can't control the history, but I strive to tell it accurately and sometimes that history is what was originally on the land. As far as you getting lost, that is very unfortunate but I anticipated that that may have happened on Halloween weekend when we have hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city, which is why I gave directions to where we were heading before each stop, gave everyone small candles that stood out, and periodically stopped to allow the group to catch up. Regarding not being able to hear me, I can see why that would be frustrating. That's why I deliberately moved the group to places that were quieter, encouraged everyone to move close and stand in front of me and wandered in front of everyone as I spoke. If you would have communicated with me that you were unable to hear, I would have made sure that there was space for you in the front. But, alas, unfortunately I am not a mind reader. And to address your last statement concerning my tour being the least expensive tour on the Salem agenda, I create my own prices, not tripadvisor or the city of Salem. It was less expensive than some other tours because I had a sale going on for Halloween weekend. Knowing that so many people were choosing to spend most likely thousands of dollars on their trip, I wanted to offer an affordable tour that would give a good sense of the history of the town. Thank you for your feedback. Krystina

Melissa_G

Oct 2021

She was sarcastic which was funny and she knew her stuff. Very informative tour. It rained during but she powered thru

Response from Host

Nov 2021

Me? Sarcastic? Nooooooo. Thank you so much for enduring the rain with me. I hope it made it a memorable experience and that your shoes have finally dried out. I really appreciate your feedback and I hope you had an amazing stay in Salem.