40 US Historical Homes That Are Worth the Visit

28.The Jonathan Corwin House

The Jonathan Corwin House is noteworthy for its age; they built it in the first half of the 1600s. Its traditional Colonial style is also striking. However, it is sadly best known for its role in the persecution and murder of women in the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Better known as the Witch House, it was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who presided over the vast majority of the killings. The Witch House is the only structure remaining in Salem, Massachusetts, with direct ties to the trials. While nobody ever conducted interrogations or trials at this property, Corwin’s extensive role in the trials makes the house an essential landmark in the witch trials’ tragic history.

This property is at 310 Essex Street — at the intersection of North Street and Summer Street. They designed the house in a traditional 17th century New England style. However, the construction year is unclear. They moved it about 35 feet in the 1940s when the streets were widened. Furthermore, experts restored it to resemble what homes would have looked like during the time Judge Corwin lived there. Presently, the City of Salem operates it as a museum. People can visit the property seasonally. It remains a popular attraction for supernatural-minded people, with Ghost Hunters filming an episode there.