In 1692, nearly two hundred people in the Salem area were accused of being witches, with twenty being convicted and publicly executed. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial, located in the modern city of Salem, Massachusetts, honors these twenty victims with a monument that provides visitors with a place to reflect and also consider society-defining elements like civility, due process and justice.
The First Memorial in Salem Dedicated to the Trials
Occurring between February of 1692 and May of 1693, the Salem Witch Trials saw over two hundred people being accused of being a witch, which was a crime at the time. Thirty were found guilty, with nineteen being executed by hanging while one was pressed to death.
Built in 1992 for the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial was the first memorial in Salem dedicated to the witch trials. Granite walls surround three sides of a plot is carved out of the Old Burying Point cemetery, with granite benches representing each victim lining the walls. Etched on each bench is a name, means of execution, and execution date.
Designed by architect Jim Cutler and artist Maggie Smith, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial allows audiences to engage with the space on multiple levels. It resides within the cemetery where Salem Witch Judge John Hathorne is buried as well as many other Salem residents from 1692. Since the location of the victim’s graves remains unknown, the memorial also serves as a place for audiences to pay their respects to the victims.
Every year the Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice is given to an individual or organization that speaks out and takes action for human rights and social justice. These sorts of events and activities are in addition to the quiet reflection and engagement visitors can have with the space and the history it represents.
Remembering the Lessons of the Salem Witch Trials
The lessons from the Salem Witch Trials drove the creation the Salem Witch Trials Memorial. These lessons are connected to modern events and interest that are inherently linked to a critical piece of American history. It highlights the multiple types engagement that can be cultivated when a monument embraces the legacy of an entire community.
