Salem Heritage Trail

The Salem Heritage Trail is a self-guided walking route connecting many of Salem’s historic sites, museums, neighborhoods, and attractions. Originally created in the 1980s to help visitors explore Salem’s history on foot, the trail highlights the many stories that have shaped the city over time.

As you follow the trail, you’ll encounter sites connected to Salem’s earliest settlers, local Indigenous Peoples, Colonial Salem, and the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, maritime and industrial history, abolitionism, African American history, immigrant experiences, and more. Along the route, visitors will find a mix of historic landmarks, museums, waterfront areas, shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions.

In 2020, Salem updated the Salem Heritage Trail to create a more inclusive and welcoming visitor experience, moving away from references tied to the trail’s original “Red Line” history and expanding connections throughout downtown and beyond.

Learn more and plan your route at SalemHeritageTrail.org.