In a momentary fit of sanity, our elected officials in Washington decided that shutting down the Federal government and risking a historic default that would most certainly be followed by a historic economic collapse may have not been the best idea. As a result, the federal government is now open once more, all of the furloughed workers are back at work, and life is finally beginning to return to normal (at least until our elected officials decide to do it all over again.) However, with less than two weeks till Halloween, most people would rather focus on all of the spooky activities going on this weekend than what our leaders are planning to mess up next. Fortunately, if you are among the people who would really like to think about something else, there are a number of activities, especially in the Salem area, that will keep you busy this weekend.
First, if you have always wanted to learn more about the history of Salem and the witch trials, you may want to check out the Salem Witch Museum or the Witch House. The Salem Witch Museum, which is located in Washington Square across from Salem Common, is an auditorium-style museum that features a 30-minute presentation on the events that occurred during the witch trials and a 30-minute tour that explains how society’s perceptions of witches and witchcraft have changed over the years. This museum is a great way to get an overview of the events that happened in Salem during the Witch Trials and to learn a little more about the differences between real and imagined witches. The Witch House, on the other hand, is actually the original home of the judge that presided over the Salem Witch Trials, Judge Jonathan Corwin. This historic landmark will allow you to get a better idea of what life was like in 1692. For more information on these museums, please visit the Salem Witch Museum website or the Witch House website.
Secondly, if you’re already familiar with the history of the witch trials and/or you’ve seen these exhibits before, you may want to check out Cry Innocent. Cry Innocent is actually a reenactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop performed by Gordon College’s History Alive! This show, unlike some of the other attractions in Salem, will not only tell you about the witch trials but will actually show you what they were like. In fact, if you get to the show with your tickets in hand early enough, you will get to see an accused witch arrested in the street, participate in the trial, and ultimately help to decide the fate of the accused. For more information on History Alive’s Cry Innocent, please visit the Cry Innocent website.
Photo credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism / Foter / CC BY-ND