Old Burying Point Cemetery Reviews

Such an amazing experience. The cemetery has such a serene feel to it. Seeing the graves and understanding the time that has lapsed since these people were laid to rest.

We wished we could have walked inside to see the graves but everything was fenced off. Tip: it's better if you're short on time to go to the Howard Street old graveyard nearby/behind Witch Museum. And make drive to Marblehead to see that old cemetary, very cinematic.

We enjoyed walking around, reading the stones, and trying to imagine the people and the place at the time period.

The cemetery was well kept and we found it interesting to read some of the older tombstones. When we visited they were doing some restoration work, but it did not impede our visit.

This cemetery, also known as Charter Street Cemetery, is very old with headstones dating back to the 1600's. We found some that were family plots, some with headstones so worn they were unreadable and some that were in amazing condition in spite of their age. We just went on our own but we saw a tour group that was getting the stories behind them. For us, the stories would have been cool if we'd wanted to take the time for a tour, but on our own it was free, so that was a plus.

This is a pretty small Cemetery, but there were some very old graves here. I asked someone where the oldest one was and he showed me one from 1673.

History comes alive here. The stones themselves speak of centuries past. A remarkable place to visit and reflect on times past and present.

This is a terrific cemetary to visit to get some of the Salem witch history. There are some really cool stories about some people buried here. A must see when touring Salem.

CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS BUT it's small enough that you can walk by and still get the benefit. Apparently the entire graveyard was washed away hundreds of years ago when the waterline was at the edge of it (and not at least 0.5-1 mile away as it is today), BUT if you buy your spot - even if your body isn't in there anymore, it's still your gravestone and your burial plot. Learned that from a tour guide. many of the headstones have had so many rubbings that they're showing a lot of wear and tear - we're glad to see the renovation is taking place. The tribute to those who were killed in the Salem Witch Trial hysteria are right next to / outside of Burying Point, so it's a good stop for a few minutes. There were also fast food stands that had fried everything to hot apple cider.

When we visited the area was being upgraded and no access was allowed. Parts of the cemetery may have been sinking? We were still able to see everything without going in the cemetery. Highly recommended!

my sure you read the bury stones some inportant people have been buryed there not to big of a cementry just enough

We wandered into this cemetery, and it really boggles the mind at the age of many of these graves. The stones have been well tended and repaired when necessary.

Right next to the cemetery is the Witches Memorial. Might even miss it if you’re not paying attention. 19 stone benches for the nineteen lives lost due to the witch trials. Somehow it made the accused witches that much more human.

Here you can see the original grave of the jug that killed all that innocent people, and is right next the memorial

This is a nice little site with a lot of history. I saw some reviews about staff rudeness, but we didn't experience that. There were really interesting markers to look at and the trees are beautiful to see. The trees alone are history. The pathway is gravel so sometimes the wheelchair didn't work so well. It is a solem place for reflection our history.

This is definitely one of my favorite places to visit. We come at least once a year. Beautiful and somber place. So much history in one spot.

It was such a wonderful site to see. The well kept grass and the well kept and maintained headstones were amazing! I appreciated the serenity of the graveyard and the lovely historical facts they planted through out it!

Very interesting a lot of history. Would recommend this tour need about 3 to 4 hous if you want to read the tomb stones.

Spend the money to go with a tour guide! This place has so much more than just old tombstones. Take the time to go with a guide that will truly explain it to you. Whether you like history or you like hearing about pirates or you love a juicy drama, it’s all buried here.

The city has a lot to offer but be prepared and bring lots of cash as every museum and tour cost money and cash is the most convenient. We went to the Pirates of New England museum and that was okay because it was a very small tour. We walked the grounds of the House of Seven Gables and got to see the Wich Memorial. This city is filled with history. We went to Boston to see a stand up comedian Bill Burr and ended up stopping by Salem. Turned out it was their Festival of the Dead so parking was a nightmare and we ended up paying $20 for our parking by the Salem hotel. Overall great experience besides the parking nightmare.

It was such a nice historical site to see so many headstones taken good care of. They were so thin that it seems amazing how well they have held up. Some were in disrepair but only like 3.

I was disappointed to find that there was a homeless person camped out in the back corner. The trash and debris from this person really made for an eye sore and in my opinion disrespectful to the dead.

Such an amazing experience. When we took the daytour, we learned so much about the different sizes of the graves, the skull and wings, the tomb entrances, etc.

The Old Burying Point Cemetery has a lot of important members of Salem's history resting here: judges from the witch trails, the last govenor of the Massachucetts Bay Colony - Simon Bradstreet, and the woman thought to inspire Hester Prynne's character in the Scarlet Letter (Ellenor Hollingworth). Next to the cemetery is the Witch Trails Memorial, a memorial for those who were killed in the Salem Witch Trails.

It is a self guided tour, but there are a few walking tours you can get on that take you to the cemetery that give a detailed history. It's a great place to take photos and walk around.

SO MUCH HISTORY. Seeing just how old some of these sites are is mind blowing. The only thing negative I will say is that the city needs to do more to preserve the old tombstones. Very cool.

Beautiful, wheelchair friendly, free and easy to navigate. Viewed during the Satanic Salem Walking Tour.

This is the real deal in Salem. These graves and gravestones should be revered and left untouched, but too many unwitting visitors fail to be respectful. That said, I still recommend that visitors to Salem visit this sacred site and refrain from selfies and other forms of performance that desecrate the site.

Next to the Salem Witch Trials memorial, the cemetery fills you with a sense of the tragedies that took place there. They try their best to maintain it with strict walking paths, but unfortunately most people are interested in taking selfies and trample the grave sites. We were really surprised they allow baby strollers and young children (most of whose parents let them run around unsupervised). By the time we got done, a local docent had had enough and ushered folks out and temporarily closed it to give those sleeping some peace and quiet.

I was actually surprised about how close in town it was. It's literally in the center of Salem. It's right beside the Salem witch trial Memorial so if you're looking for that it's right there next to it. the only downside is that so many people walk through it that the graves look almost fake and a walking path literally walked you over some Graves. It doesn't really look like a cemetery anymore. And it's hard to find the graves of the notable burials there was so many people around you.

I went during October and tours were being held so I was able to get some amazing information while standing in the second oldest cemetary in the US! How crazy. Definitely a must see when visiting Salem.

We visited the cemetery towards the end of the stay, without a guide, after visiting several museums. We expected to recognize several names of those involved and it was not so simple.

By chance, we went to the left and we only saw at the end that there is a plaque indicating the location of some famous names. In general, most graves are illegible or inaccessible (you have to stay on the trail and the perspective does not allow to see the inscriptions).

Perhaps the tour with a guide would have given a better experience. All in all, it's still a nice walk to do.

The Old Burying Point Cemetery is not the original gravesite for most of the bodies. Our tour guide explained that graves can be moved after a century. Most of the bodies were moved here.

The Cemetery has been renovated before and is currently closed for renovations. Some of the bodies are within a foot of the surface. You can see some of the headstones close up from the Witch Trial Memorial. All the headstones face away from the back of the Witch Trial Memorial.

Old, somber, beautiful. A lot of pretty things to look at and nice grounds. A nice place to walk around and relax

This is the 2nd oldest cemetery in America! Loved seeing the old headstones and it felt a little creepy.

Need to stay on the path. Hard to read some of the tombstones. Very old. One way traffic through the cemetery. Look like it had lights in the trees for the night walking tours. A guided walk might have been better. It was a cute fun place to go through.

I really enjoyed walking around the cemetery and reading the headstones. It's a beautiful cemetery. The iconography from that time is a lot different than more modern cemeteries and it's beautiful that these images still survive some 300 years later.

Very old cemetery. Many gravestones from the 1600's. Amazing that the grave markers are still legible after all this time. Lots of locally important people buried here. Even someone who was on the Mayflower! Closes around 6pm so make sure to get there.

Very interesting location, we went in the evening during a walking tour so that definitely amped up the spooky of the experience but history prevails, definitely stop by!

When walking in Salem, I would make a point to stop here. Not that I am morbid or anything, but you can see the headstones and see just how rough it must gave been in that some die so young. We are definately fortunate in this day and age to have modern medicine to help usout. I would also while you are walking the grounds log into or check a genealogy site to look into the history of the folks. You will be surprised who you will find. Oh by the way you will not find one of the poor accused souls there. THe family would have to reclaim them and bury them on their own land as no one wanted them around.

The cemetery is next to the witch trials memorial. You can view it all from there. I did not walk inside to look at headstones.

The old cemetery is very run down. Many of the headstones are in shambles. It's a shame that there isn't a historical group that helps to maintain it on a regular basis. However, it is amazing that stones from the early 1600's are still there.

The second oldest cemetery in the country. Check out the wonderful judge who condemned the people to their perceived witch hood. The place is well kept and in the heart of the town. I will probably be going back to Salem again, I hope, and will go back here. Did not spend enough time here. Really great cemetery .

We did not take a guided tour so I don't know all the history here but I do know I found it to be a great, old (the oldest I've been to) cemetery. I was amazed at how well preserved the headstones were for it's age (founded in 1637). The grounds also appeared to be very well kept.

One thing I did notice was the backs of the headstones were facing the memorial to the men/women that were put to death for being witches. I don't know if this is a coincidence or not. These headstones have been there for so long some have trees growing around them and just swallowing them up.

This cemetery can still be seen from the pathway, but is currently closed for renovation.
It contains the graves of prominent people included in the trials but not the victims themselves.

Interesting to see where convicted witches were burried. There were 2 men that were convicted, 1 hung the other crushed to death! Oh my.

You’ll be hard pressed to find an older or better-preserved burial ground with iconic headstones anywhere else in the USS, except for Plimoth. These Puritan headstones are so classic, you’ll get a sense of the period of religious history from seeing them. It’s a small area and the grave of the “hanging judge” Hawthorne is here

The cemetery is currently closed, but you can view from the gate, as well as from the memorial next door. We walked by during the day and it was peaceful and beautiful.
Walked by again in the evening for a ghost tour and it was much eerier.

I saw lots of tombstones and crypts to historic figures of Salem. The memorial to the twenty people executed, nineteen hung and one pressed to death, was a definite highlight to the cemetery.

The Old Burying Point Cemetery in Salem, MA is very interesting. You can just walk through to reach other Places like the Salem Wax Museum for Example. But if you interested in History and Old Graves this is a To Do Thing when youre in Salem. You can discover many old Graves also from People who came with the Mayflower and where one of the Settlers. You can also see some Squirrels. Some Night and Ghost Tours have their Route at Night there. Also a few Steps away is the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. One Think left, please Respect the Dead People there :)

While interesting to view, it will make excellent exploration when it is again open to the public. You need to view items adjacent, so it is easy to include in your exploration

What an incredible piece of history. It is staggering to think that this cemetery is older than our country. It is well-kept and maintained. A real hit with our group.

The Old Burying Point Cemetery is located very close to the harbor of Salem, as well as the Peabody Essex Museum, and other historic sites. There is plenty of dining nearby in all price ranges, as well as shopping. The cemetery is very photogenic, with many Puritan Era gravestones. Gravestone rubbing is prohibited! It has a few paths around the site, but they are unpaved. There are many Puritan leaders buried here, as well as the only passenger of Mayflower who settled in Salem, but contrary to popular belief there are no graves of those executed for witchcraft in 1692. There are graves of some of the judges, and the Salem Witchcraft Trials Memorial is directly adjacent.

Crazy to see graves from so long ago. One we found dated back to the time of the Mayflower. My only regret was not getting a tour so we would know more of what we were looking at. Nice to walk through before or after seeing the Witch Trails Memorial.

This is located right at the witch memorial. It was closed though but you can still it, just not walk through it.

The history here is incredibly tragic. So much history, we loved trying to read the head stones. If you get a chance walk around!

It’s interesting to young & old! I try to personally imagine what it was like when they were alive.
I have heard that some people are disrespectful stopping on graves and knocking grave stones over...very sad.
They may even close it down fir a while for restoration.
So go NOW while you can!

What was interesting about this cemetery is that it was so old. There is a cement walking path that winds through the cemetery, but you are not allowed off the path so reading the headstones is very difficult - not solely b/c you aren't allowed off the path, but the headstones are covered with moss and as old as the 1600s. It was still interesting to see.

You cant walk through at the moment.closed for October.
I can understand the need to preserve the stones. but it would have been nice to see the inscriptions and art on the stones.
You can still take pictures from outside the gates, just bring a telephoto lens.

Interesting old cemetery to walk around. Strict rules to stick tonpathways but unfortunately there were people more worried about selfies than respecting the burials spaces of others. You could spend from 10-30 min here. Gets busy.

Incredible old tombstones from the 17th - 19th centuries. So much history here . . . Mayflower Pilgrims, people associated with the Salem witch trials, etc. Some great tombstone art to be found.

There are a number of historic graves marked, plus it’s right next door to the witch trials memorial.
However I found the most fascinating thing was seeing the way the gravestones were decorated over time: initially ‘ winged death’s head’ - the skull with wings, then with faces, and then later motifs such as trees and urns.

I love cemeteries! Some of the graves are so old you can't read the names but some you can read from the 1700s.

Disappointed to hear from our tour guide that, since our last visit in 2012, some idiot tried to dig up a grave and hence, the cemetery is now closed after 6pm. As we looked longingly thru the fence at, at least a dozen or more tourists inside the cemetery well after 6pm (8pm anyone), obviously it wasn't being very well enforced.

We were unable to enter the cemetery and read the headstones. I have ancestors in this location and was disappointed.

Worth a walk because this is so quick. Cool historical cemetery right in the heart of Salem. If you are visiting Salem, then you are highly likely to encounter this cemetery. You do not have to take a guided tour to go through here.

This cemetary has real graves of Salemites and memorial graves of the accused witches who lost their lives in Salem during the witch trials. There is an alphabetical 'walk around' to commemorate the lives lost, and welcomes flowers or other items to honor them. I enjoyed the dark art on the grave stones. During the day you can walk through the cemetary, but at night it is closed.

Not far from the centre of town and near to other "wiitch related" sites, this cemetary is interesting to meander through. It contains the headstone of a poor chap who was struck by lightning several times, when he was buried underneath the branches of a tree, the tree was struck by lightning too!

Upon entering the cemetery, there is a map marking the sites of historical grave sites. With the two most interesting being a judge from the Salem Witch Trials and a pilgrim from the Mayflower. Earliest dates for some of the graves is the mid 1600’s.

This is an amazing cemetery but I wish they would take better care of it. In addition would like to see a way to show where the various people are buried so you can walk to those should you choose. But overall its a must see.

Save your trip for next year. The Old Burying point Cemetary is right next to the Witch Trial Memorial, but due to renovations the cemetery gates are locked up, so there is no entrance to the cemetery. The cemetery looks interesting, but none of the witches are buried there. If you are still interested in the cemetery, you can go to the visitor center, and they have a video all about the Memorial and those buried in the cemetery.

It is amazing that these gravestones from the 1600s still exist.

Everyone was very respectful as they walked through.

It was an interesting cemetery, glad I got to see this historic place. The gravestone art was really neat to view and so was the wording on the gravestones. Even the trees there were interesting, one big tree seemed to grow over several grave sites over the years. There is a specific entrance and exit to the cemetery, there are no signs indicating this just people sitting at the gates ready to inform you if you are at the wrong gate or not.

Salem never disappoints those who seek history, and those who seek merriment in celebrating the fashions of Halloween. The four of us went off to find the cemetery I’ll be a real hill and we did although it was closed at the time you can still see the entire cemetery because the Stonewall around it is just a little ways above my waist,The cemetery is brightly lit I am sure to prevent vandalism more than to show it off but it does show it off nicely. Being as I’ve been there several times in the last two years I know roundabout we are some of the significant tombstones are, so I was able to show my friends the backside of the important markers. Whether you’re there during visiting hours or after it is closed it is always worth it walk up the hill to see the burial ground

not to miss, especially the memorial to the people murdered in the witch trials. Very cool. go early to miss crowds nice stroll

So amazing to see the surviving examples of stones and reliefs from old Victorian and earlier times. Deceased who came over on the mayflower inhabit this hallowed ground. The weather was bad but it was still quite negotiable and very picturesque.

Man if graves could talk. I love Cemeteries and this one lent itself perfectly on a cold and overcast day. Close by is the house of the 7 gables so I was able to do plenty in a short amount of time.

One of the oldest cemeteries in Salem. Interesting spot to see and it’s history. Many important people were buried here.

Worth a stop. See some of history. Loved looking at all the old headstones. It is free. In Oct you make timed reservations. There are a few benches if needed.

If you like old graveyards this is for you. The only problem was most of the gravestones are worn so you couldn't make out the names and dates, but still worth the visit.

The cemetery is definitely worth the stop. It’s needs some updates but have recently been awarded a grant to build sidewalks, etc.

Normally, I love visiting old cemeteries. Reading the inscriptions, trying to make a little sense of what I’m taking in, even though it’s all but impossible to know anything about anyone based on the few words on their tombstones.

Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear of the throngs of tourists that descend on the cemetery every day, every month, every year, the powers that be have decided that we (visitors) must use the paths that they’ve created to navigate through. I get it, the cemetery must be preserved, but still found it disappointing.

We walked through the cemetary (during the day) and we had to read the inscriptions on every tombstone. Great historical sight!

The history is fascinating. I came because of the Witch Trials Memorial. It's so very sad that these people lost their lives at the hands of those who put themselves into a frenzy over being different

The guided tour gave a lot of insight into what it was like to live here in the late 1600s and 1700s.
The draw for us was finding the marker of one of my ancestors. One of the 20 executed in 1692.
Go here... you're in Salem! Get a feel for the real Salem.

The cemetery is open now and visitors are allowed to peruse the headstones. It is fascinating to think that some of these are 300 years old. Having gone to Salem to seek the history of the Salem Witch Trials, this is one of the few historical sites from that time frame. There was a gatekeeper that allowed only a certain amount of visitors in at a time, and you must stay on the walkways. In the visitor center, there is some information about tombstones and how they started to be made. It is interesting to think about why they were made in such a shape, and how they have evolved over the many years.

This cemetery is very old. And quite fascinating if you are into that sort of thing. A lot of the stones are blank from the weather. Others were very easy to read and are hundreds of years old.

We walked through on a chilly March morning. You really get a sense of history from the graves, the earliest we saw was 1698. Nice to step away from the hustle of Salem to reflect on the town’s past.

We happened to see the cemetery *right* before they closed it for renovations and maintenance. Very cool to see how well the stones have been cared for, and interesting to see how they're preserving the crumbling stones by encasing them in granite braces, as it were. When it's open to the public again, be sure to take a walking tour so you get a little more history behind each person there.

We walked among the graves reading the headstones that were easy to read. As everyone says, it’s amazing that they are still here and preserved. Special place.

A small original cemetery with burials going back to the early 1600s. Accessible and interesting. The witches that were executed were not allowed to be buried here. They were dumped in a witches put although relatives and friends removed them by 1671.

I was excited to visit Salem for the first time, especially to learn more about the witch trials and pay respect to those so wrongfully executed. Next to the cemetery, we were greeted by what appeared to be a peddler offering information on the memorial. He basically shoved a folder in my hand and then said donations are welcome...so tacky. The cemetery itself does not appear to be taken care of-you would think such a popular historical site would have a group who want to preserve it. I think many tourists forget that those were actual humans buried there and not characters from a story. So sad.

Unfortunately, the cemetery was closed to the public this month as they were doing repairs. But you can still see it from the street and when you're able to enter, it's definitely got an odd vibe to it. Knowing that so many of the perpetrators of the Trials are buried here adds to the eerie feeling. Definitely go at night or if you want good pictures, go at dawn or dusk when the light shows off the creepiness.

We were able to see it from the witch memorial, but were unable to walk around it. It is undergoing renovations, but I also think they didn't want any more damage done to it from all the crowds visiting in Oct. I would have loved to walk through and see the old headstones.

Be sure to check the opening times for the cemetery before you visit and pick up a leaflet so you know what you are looking at and where to find the graves connected to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. There is also interesting information about the symbols on the headstones. There are strict rules to stay on the paths so to protect the graves. Some of the older headstones have been placed inside a modern frame to help preserve them.

Great old cemetery with so much history. Situated right in between the other sites of Salem. Easy to access and walk around.

The variety of engravings on the headstones in the Old Burying Point Cemetery is amazing. Considering its age, the grounds are in very good repair. Restoration work is currently underway, but friendly workers let us enter and have a good look around. Given the number of October visitors Salem attracts though, I think it is smart that they restrict access to the cemetery as old stones are very fragile. We were there in September and this was one of the highlights of our trip.

This is a "Must See Site!" This to me was one of the core landmarks to visit. Highly recommend it. You can go on your own or within one of the tours available.

We visited the Salem Witch Trials Memorial and were able to look beyond the fence at the cemetery. It is closed for renovations at the time and would love to return and actually walk through.

Certainly worth a visit if you are in Salem. A quick walk from downtown, just a few behind Essex street/ave which is the busy street. I like that the cemetery ( which is full of Puritans) is looking over at the memorial for the victims of the Salem witch trail. The bodies were never found/allowed a proper burial so they made the memorial. The cemetery itself is cool.

The graves are of course old and I knew that people would be wondering through but I think I’d prefer a different old cemetery for my next Halloween trip. It was just too bustling and too many people in the way to really see the charm of the place. Beautiful but I suggest if you like the feel of an “eerie” cemetery you either go on another day or go very early on Halloween.

This cemetary had many single young women buried here for obvious reasons (Salem Witches). There is a spot in front of the cemetary where supposedly the hangings took place along with memorial markers with their names on them and how they died. One man was pressed to death instead of hung because he wouldn't testify. Very interesting to see.

This is next to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial so I suggest checking out both. The cemetery is small so you can easily walk the loop around the whole thing. Jonathan Corwin's grave is close to the entrance on the right if you want to see it.

Strolled through this historic cemetery while in the village. Really interesting. The old stones were awesome, see where the 20 were hanged in 1692 for witchcraft. Nice little walk.

Definitely a must see if you're in Salem Mass. It is closed this year, due to being revamped. Not sure why that would keep it from being open as there were no workers, tools or machinery there. Everything was just blocked off. But you can still see it and take pictures from the outside

This is one of the oldest graveyards in the country and is an easy walk from the center of town. There are no “witches” buried here but the memorial is right outside the cobblestone wall. The crowds are massive during October and perhaps they close it to the public to preserve it’s sanctity which is understandable. Nonetheless you are easily able to see through the wrought iron fence and over the waist high cobblestone wall and understand the history of this final resting place.

Walked through on a chilly November morning! Very interesting to read tomb stones and get a feel for the haunting past!

Iconic, and Beautiful. They gave replanted the grass, cleaned up the debris and have restored some of the stones that had been broken. They now have two staff members on at all times to maintain the integrity of the site and answer questions. Beautiful examples of gravestone art. Gorgeous trees and winding paths.

The oldest cemetery in Salem is an amazing stop. If you are a history buff, you must visit this cemetery.

It’s definitely worth a visit as are the other cemeteries in Salem. Some of these graves date back to the 17th century and third site is right next to the Witch Trials Memorial.

Unfortunately, it’s not terribly well preserved and there appears to be little to no preservation work done. It’s disappointing because many of the graves are completely eroded and their details are lost to time which is a great shame.

Otherwise it’s an interesting place with a bit of history - quite peaceful.

A visit to this hallowed ground allowed us to walk around and look at various tombstones and crypt chambers. The interesting fact was that the witch memorial was right by this cemetery. During the late night ghost tour, the guide stated that the building next to the witch memorial was haunted by a malevolent ghost or other entity.

The memorial is lovely, but beyond it is also worth a stroll. Everyone was respectful and stones are beautiful- even the ones that can no longer be read.

It's fun to wander and look at the headstone design elements, ages of the people, and overall relative condition of the cemetery. They actually had some long-lived folks back then!

We visited the cemetery after seeing the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, which is adjacent. The cemetery is fairly well kept, with a gravel path for you to walk along as you check out the headstones. We did not take a tour, but enjoyed seeing how well preserved these very old headstones were.

This was my favorite spot in Salem. Reading their stories of what happened to them was very moving.

I almost started to cry

While Salem prides itself on the spookier aspects, this place is just a cemetery. Yes there are some old graves.

This cemetery is right next to the memorial and free to enter. You must stay on the path. It was very interesting to see the ancient headstones. It was a peaceful place despite the heat and many other visitors.

Just a short walk from the train station is the Old Burying Point Cemetery. It is in the middle of Salem and the second oldest cemetery in the country, and an interesting peaceful place to take a stroll through. The gravestones date back hundreds of years and people constantly touching them have worn many smooth, which makes it difficult to read the names. John Hawthorne the hanging judge and Salem witch trial judge Jonathan Corwin are buried here, along with one of the original pilgrims of the Mayflower. There is also a memorial to the twenty people executed by hanging or pressed to death, but it is difficult to read all the names. The actual burial site for these poor people has been lost in the sands of time

Tip: Visit mid-week to enjoy the walk and reading the head stones without the large crowds

I visited the cemetery at night and found it was very spooky. They say the house at the cemetery is actually haunted.

Reading the headstones stimulated lots of discussions with the student group I was with. What is consumption? Why are there so many babies or young kids buried here? Are any of the witch trial victims here? It is a peaceful, pretty place to walk through. Stocks and several gift shops are located nearby.

This graveyard is Awesome. I left gold coins on the graves of witches hanged and the one pressed. The witches are not actualy buried here. There families took the bodies and buried them elsewhere. This is just a graveyard to honor them.

Beautiful old cemetery next to Witch Trial Memorial. Very interesting to see all of the old grave stones and learn the history of the cemetery and the area.

I managed to visit five cemeteries on my recent visit to Salam. All of them are worth seeing. The stones have epitaphs that are worth reading.

I love old graveyards and cemeteries - we spent some time here looking for the oldest stone many of which even though they were of granite were unreadable but many of the Mathers were buried there and many 1600's gravestones

Second oldest cemetery in America! Totally worth the time to walk thru and see how the original gravestones were designed and to read all the dates and names, that you can make out.

Loved this however was closed to walk through however still looked through gates . The tombstones are maybe an inch or two thick.

We learned about this burying point during a walking tour - and learned about foot stones, the nearby house with spiders, and the different ways bodies were laid to rest here.

It’s close to the Witch Trial Memorial so is worth a walk around if you’re close by. There’s lots of history here and it’s interesting to have a quick explore of. There’s a notice which points out ‘significant’ people buried there including those linked to the Witch Trials.

Very old cemetery! Some of the Tombstones are eligible but wow the history here is amazing! We did a walk through and took a few pictures but didn't stop at the visitor center which is right next to it. I would definitely recommend making this a stop on your Salem itinerary. Oh and it's free

I found myself very curious about the individuals buried in this cemetery. It is old. Found a gravestone dated back to 1688! Some of the artwork and carving are gorgeous. A lot of stones are weathered and it's hard to make them out. We spent about an hour just reading the stones. Everyone was very respectful as well...as we should be toward these old souls.

I figured this would be the final resting place of the victims ~ i was surprised that none of the 20 were there. After doing research none of the victims could have a proper burial. So it's believed that the victims family took the bodies in the dark.
Still a small and cute cemetery which does have Nathan Hawthorne's Grandfather who was a Judge during the trails. Worth visiting while in salem
free walk thru

I love going to cemeterys. This one was very informative. After you hear all the stories and read all the information on the trials then go to the cemetery and see all the graves. Worth going!

Our tour guide stated it is one of the oldest cemeteries in the world. It is free to walk through, though if you go during October, there may be a wait to get in as they only allow so many people in at a time.

Either read up on Salem’s history before you go here or take a guided walking tour. Either will add more context to this visit. Rich in history, this is a valuable balance to the more “circus” atmosphere if some of the town.

Only open in daylight. It is against the law to be in the cemetery from dusk to dawn. They mean this! Police monitor it. Respect the law and respect this place.

The original old historical cemetery with many prominent judges from 1690s are buried here. . It's a actual cemetery so be respectful. There are paths to walk around and pay your respect. Well worth a visit and it's free.

This spot if so filled with history you really need to go here to see these stones and look at the names of the early residents of Salem. There are some gorgeous stones here with some really history and the people that work here really have some wonderful stories to share, ALL FOR FREE!!!!!!

This is indeed a very old cemetery. Visitors must stay on the gravel path, and it's not always easy to be able to study heavily worn gravestones. The only one I knew was Nathaniel Hawthorne's ancester, John Hathorne, who was a judge in the witch trials. If you want to spend time here, consider going with a tour guide.

We visited as part of an evening tour and it was great and very spooky. We came back the following morning to experience it during the day as well. Highly recommend taking a tour that includes this as a stop to get the most out of your visit.

Very interesting attraction. Headstones are very old. The inscriptions are worn and hard to read. It's a self-guided "tour" as you're free to visit the property and explore for as long as you'd like. Worth the visit.

I'm giving 5 stars because this is my home town and I haven't visited in quite some time. Anyway, spent the day here recently and went to the cemetery. Cemetery is amazing, I totally recommend going on their website and reading about those that are buried there. Anyway after we walked around we were looking at the old building near the cemetery and my husband being in construction points out these overlaps in the siding. This guy that worked there tells "please do not touch the building", my husband yelled back saying "I wasn't I was pointing at something." I walked away mad and didn't want to say this cause I didn't want to cause a scene in the street.....My question is, when you close up at night who is watching the building when people are walking up and down it, night after night touching it, homeless probably pee on it. And if you're SO concerned about something/someone TOUCHING your building. Why not put a goddam fence around it.

The real deal - for a budget travel in Salem, this is free to visit and well worth a wander around- cannot beat old grave stones to tell the history of an area better than any paid for interpretation.

As soon as we stepped into this cemetery I felt uneasy. I am not sensitive to the supernatural or any of that stuff but I still felt that I wasn't wanted and that I didn't want to be there any longer than I had to. Most of the head stones were difficult to read but the ones that could be read were very cool. Did not like that in order to read the headstones, just the ones on the path that we were allowed to get closer, we were basically standing on somebodies grave. Very creepy, I felt better as soon as we left.

We thoroughly enjoyed exploring this cemetery. A Plymouth Pilgrim was buried there and it was just so interesting to see the old tombstones and how they were written in comparison to today. Hocus Pocus was also partly filmed in this cemetery which was interesting for the kids too.

Some people think of cemeteries as a place of sadness. I choose to look at them as a place of beauty. Take the time to look at the artwork on these old stones. You may only see such work only here at the Burying Point. The trees are something to behold as well.

There is fencing up around the entrance and it’s closed temporarily for restoration. It looks like an amazing place to explore and we hope to come back someday.

So many old graves. Pick up one of the Salem books most stores have for free. That book gives some info about the cemeteries.

Really nothing to see here unless you have a guide to tell you what is what and give you some history. But from our experience that is Salem all over! Our trip was saved by our walking tour with the lovely and interesting Ken.

So much history and historical figures in this cemetery! From one of the captains of the Mayflower to some who were victims of the witch trials

After going on the Salem Night Tour, my girlfriend and I went back the following day to look for the Lightening Tree. After finding that, we walked through the cemetery and saw some very notable head stones. People are walking around to make sure people are respectful since this is a very old cemetery (2nd oldest in the country). Felt a little creepy and odd paying respects to people I never met but we enjoyed taking a walk through history.

These old grave markers are beautiful and the cemetery well kept. Nicely designed for accessiablity but maintaining original intent.

I'd give this a higher rating except I couldn't find a way to get in! I saw a couple of gates but they were all locked. I was here around 10 am on a Tuesday morning. No signs saying closed, so I took a few pictures over the fence and left.

A very, very old burial ground in Salem. Two judges who were part of the Witch Trials are buried here. Well laid out and accessible.

Trying to help Find A Grave locate graves. So many are illegible. Great to see so many old graves. Small old burial ground

Located among the bustling downtown Salem area, the Burying Point is the oldest cemetery in Salem, MA. Weathered old stone markers, cool old trees.Buried there you will find the graves of a Mayflower pilgrim and witchcraft trial judge John Hathorne. There is no fee to get into the cemetery and it’s open from dawn to dusk. The markers date way back and some are in better shape than others so step carefully. Please note that making grave rubbings is strictly prohibited and carries a fine for doing so. Please no rubbing of stones. Please be respectful. No running children. This is a sacred place.

It's pretty much right beside the busiest street.
There is a witches memorial right by the cemetery but NO "WITCHES" ARE BURIED HERE! They didn't bury the people hanged. Still an old cool graveyard, yes.

A solemn, but beautiful area. It’s a little cemetery, peaceful in the center of all the activity, but like all cemeteries a reminder of the harshness of life when they were alive. Located next to the Salem memorial benches. I recommend paying it a visit.

Located right next to the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, this cemetery is a must see. Historical and full of old tombs and tombstones, I highly recommend visiting this cemetery. Take your time though. There's lots to see here.

Super cool in the history behind the Salem witchcraft hanging. Free excursion so a walk around the memorial is a great excursion

I loved it, it was amazing to see the different tomb stones and the names and such of the different people there from the salem witch trials. It wasn't to crowded, and you can take pictures and the tour guide there was wonderful with answering any and all questions we might have about the cemetery. I would so go again with my friends.

Pros:
-Free
-Gorgeous, well-maintained cemetery with many interred individuals of historic importance.
-On-site guide who is extremely knowledgeable.

No Cons

We were looking for a way to experience the atmosphere and this cemetery set the tone. Great place to walk around and really get a feel for the age of the area and a piece of real history. It was a little rainy and overcast which added to the feel. I wish I would have been able to do the night tour. The area is very commercialized, but take your time to explore the area. This would be the perfect destination around Halloween.

Free reservations required, must book the morning of as soon as they go on “sale” to get a slot. The cemetery itself is great, full of history and very old stones. The staff member at the gate was knowledgeable and kind, but didn’t mention staying on the path. You can’t read any of the stones that are NOT right next to the path, and we were looking for a specific stone for genealogy purposes, so we tried to move a little closer to one of the stones to see the details (just looking, not touching) but were immediately barked at by a woman on her phone who I later realized was another “staff member.” I remember coming here years ago when anyone could just wander in and browse. It’s sad that it has become this. I understand they don’t want people touching the stones, but it seems a little bit unnecessary to insist staying on the path, and very rude to just start yelling at people instead of calmly instructing us to the rules. If they are going to be that strict about staying on the path, they should really have large, obvious signs. Since you can’t see all the stones anyway, it’s not really worth it to go inside, just go to the memorial for the witch trial victims which is outside the gate, and you can get a nice view of the cemetery from there without bothering to reserve tickets.

After we took the trolley tour - and stopped at several locations - hop on hop off - we walked around the area near the center. We visited this cemetery- known as the Burying point -it is extremely old — and it was so interesting to see the names (and dates ) on some of the stones - that were readable. It’s a must see if you are in Salem I tried to add afew pics but I was unable to - too large it said

Join the excitement of the ghoulishly haunted Old Burying Point Cemetery. Go and explore the interesting gravestones, do a couple of grave stones rubings, and just take in the erieness of the Old Burying Point Cemetery.

This cemetery has a rich history and is very moving to walk through. Please be respectful when doing so.

So apparently you have to buy tickets to go to the cemetery, but I could not find a place to buy them? The one spot I found for tickets was a bit fishy, charging $30/person, on a sketchy website. I believe you can buy first thing in the morning in person, but they sell out QUICK! Something I definitely wish we could've seen, but it just didn't work out. From the fence, the property seemed very well maintained, and the tombstones are in great shape! Glad to see that they are all taken care of!

Very well kept and a lot of very old stones. We walked around for quite some time. It was closed when we went back after a late dinner.

Unfortunately the cemetery is closed to the public for some sort of restoration process. But you can get some great pictures from the surrounding walls. None of the Witch Trial victims were interred here. They were witches, so no Christian burial. Some of their accusers are planted here however. Worth a stop.

This is a very interesting place right next to the Witch Trial Memorial. It has a very old feel to it. It’s worth seeing if you’re nearby.

Amazing history and worth a walk thru. So much history here related to the Salem witch trials along with many noted members of the town and history

The displays for the “witches” that were killed were interesting to read but the cemetery is just a cemetery. I didn’t find anything that interesting about it. A little spooky at night but that is it

When in Salem, you must visit the Old Burying Point Cemetery. By day and by night. Very historic and charming location.

I lived in mansfield Ma. in a new development cedar meadows in 1980s near canoe river camp ground . a short walk from there in the woods i came across 4 flat slate gravestones . Inscribed with the name of a minister and the others were his 3 wifes. dated 1670 does anyone have info on these?

We learned about burial sites that include the judge of the witches trail for Bridget Bishop. A memorial for the people accused of being witches.

As you walk in, it is very emotional to see all those people there who died for unknown desease called hysteria. Well done, no dogs allowed but I can understand. Not everyone picks uP after their dog.

Made a trip today with my family to Salem and decided to visit the cemetery. It’s very well kept and everyone visiting was very respectful. The town is in the middle of doing some renovations to help preserve the hundreds years old gravestones. I want to definitely stop by once it’s complete.

Such a beautiful place! I do not believe any of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials are buried there, but John Hathorne is. He was one of the leading judges during the trials. (Which makes him a human garbage pile.) It is one of the oldest cemeteries and it definitely shows it age. You are not allowed on the grounds after 6pm but you get a clear view of it from almost all angles, so it's still pretty awesome!

We called into Salem at end of a trip to Boston and The Cape.

Definitely worth the visit and wish we had been able to stay longer.

Very interesting and unusual history.

Love the 'red' line guide!

This cemetery is pretty small, but is an important part of Salem's history, as it dates back to the seventeenth century and houses some of Salem's notable residents, as well as some of the unfortunate victims of the Salem Witch Trials and soldiers from the Revolutionary War. There's also a memorial to victims of the witch trials. This cemetery is calm and quiet despite the number of people who visit it. Due to the history of the cemetery, some of the tombstones are hard to read, but that is to be expected.

The stones are very old. We were not able to walk through the cemetery while there, but you can get the essence of what happened. We took a lot of pictures and left some memorandum on some of the stones

This cemetery is one of the oldest in the U.S. It would have been helpful having more information posted on the people buried there.

I love old cemeteries, this one was interesting to visit but again has a strange aura in it. It does not allow pets in there and it gets locked up after 6pm.

I enjoyed reading the headstones and following the map or guide at the entrance to the graveyard. It would have been of interest to me to read something about how the headstones were created and why some from the 1600s and 1700s were more legible than later ones.

One of the oldest cemeteries in the US that dates back to the 1600s with great historical figures buried within.

... this place can't be missed! It's right in the thick of everything in modern day Salem. Located right behind the touristy Witch Village. Judge Hathorn, one of the main magistrates for the witch trials is buried here. Many tombstones from the 1600’s. Mary Corey, second wife of Giles Corey, is buried here. Giles is the guy who was pressed to death due to suspicion for witchcraft.

As a cemetery lover, I found this one to be perfect. It is right next to the Witch Trial Memorial with tons of old stones from the 1600s. It was a bit difficult to maneuver due to some mud, but I'm very glad I was able to explore it while in Salem.

Salem is missing out on tourism dollars by not spending some money on maintaining the cementery or offering a map of the citizens who are buried there. If you know anything about the witch trials, commerce from the early days, or knowledge of the great New England authors, you can find a connection to the people who are buried there.

We thought this was where the innocent people hung in 1692 were buried but it isn't. There is a memorial right next to this cemetery that is a memorial to them. There is a list of names of significant people buried here but we didn't recognize many other than a judge of the witch trials and relatives of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

It was open in mid-September when we visited but I guess it is closed now. It is right in town so you can just park elsewhere and walk here.

A quintessential Salem cemetery! We really enjoyed seeing the incredibly old gravestones, and the employees were knowledgeable.

Not sure how you rate a cemetery but this one has the history and creepiness factor going on! A definite must see! Went during the day and again after dark. Total different vibes each time.

The creepy factor was very high for this place. The most important Salem Witch Trial Cemetery in Salem, in October, with the fall color. What is not to love about it. It is an actual cemetery and needs to be treated with the proper respect. That said, if you are visiting Salem and this location doesn't give you a bit of a creepy feel, you must not be into the Salem experience and may have wasted your time and money.

I’ve been here a few times now and daytime is cool to read the names on the stones but night time, especially a foggy night, it gets kinda creepy. Energy in this place is awesome.

An easy walk from the hotel we stayed at. Very interesting and well maintained. There was someone there who could answer questions. They were selling maps, but similar maps were available for free elsewhere.

We were there the last day in September before the gates were closed for the month of October. It was amazing to see tombstones from the 1600's. Loved reading the inscriptions and dates.

The cemetery is interesting enough, but context is much more than the actual site. There is a limited amount of information available onsite to show where those murdered as witches and those who accused/sentenced them are buried.

One huge tip is to wear shoes with closed toes if its at all dry. The paths are dusty and your feet will get gritty. Worth the visit for history’s sake.

We visited Salem on our honeymoon. Among other activities we checked out this cemetery. Very overwhelming with all the old graves, really puts into perspective what happened in the town, and how much history it has to it.

We stopped around noon on Saturday of Labor Day. Steady but not busy. Free, but pay $2 for a map of the graves of interest. You are admonished entering to stay off the grass and on the gravel walk away. I know people ruin everything and can’t be trusted to not touch or knock a tombstone over, but one really can’t see the stones.

This cemetery is next to the witch trial memorial. I believe there is a cemetery visitor center in an old building next door. We did t go in there.
We walked through the old cemetery and looked at and read the old gravestones. Some are so old and weathered that you can’t even see any characters in them.
There was an attendant at the entrance. She said it is not known where the victims of the witch trials were buried. It is very likely their remains were not given a proper burial.
Cemeteries have visiting hours, so I would check times.

Interesting to walk around and look at the old headstones. The artwork on the headstones is amazing. It also brings forth your imagination reading the dates and information written on the headstones. Makes one wonder what it was like when they were alive and to marvel at how old the cemetery is compared to contemporary times.

Now, this is the one thing you might not want to miss visiting in Salem. Very old headstones, fun to visit and see. A little spooky in the evening.

This was our favorite stop in Salem. I always enjoy visiting cemeteries and this one is so old, the experience was incredible. The grave stones are intricately engraved and I really enjoyed reading the epitaphs.

Oldest cemetery in Salem! Lots of interesting gravestones to read! A must see whether you're chasing witches or just New England history!

It was my first trip to Salem. This is a must-see! Don't miss it if you're interested in Salem and it's witches' history.

Easy access to this small, yet fascinating cemetery. Witch Trial victims and one of the judges are buried here. A vivid slice of history is augmented by a memorial to the victims. The site is right in the heart of historical Salem with many other attractions nearby.

you almost expect to see a grave yard in salem..the stories that go with it are interesting and true!

Such an interesting place! Being from the south we don't really have stuff THIS old and it is just so eerie! Especially around Halloween. Don't miss this place!

The cemetery is a one of the oldest in the US and you can still read most of the headstones. Most are carved in slate so it does not wear away like a lot of old limestone grave markers. There are many that date back to the 1600-1700’s.

They now have monitors in the cemetery because people were stealing grave stones. They limit entry to no more than 30 at a time so you may have to wait in line on weekends or holidays to get in.

This is a very old cemetary. The grave stones are fascinating to look at for dates and age. It is just a cemetery so not too exciting for kids. We spent 5 to 10 min here just doing a walkthrough.

Small cemetery very close to the witches memorial. The symbolism on the headstones is so different than modern day. We simply walked through looking at the graves and tombs. I'm sure that a tour would be very enlightening.

Visited with the Bewitched after Dark tour, so the impact was greatly enhanced by Jeffrey’s tour. On its own, I love the cut off quotes to represent how nobody listened to the accused. I think that is very clever. It’s about to be redone too, so 2019 should see a nice upgrade to the grounds.

We were just astounded by the headstones dating back to even pilgrims that are buried here in this cemetery. So interesting to read these headstones and walk up and down the rows.

If you are in Salem I would recommend stopping by the Old Burying Point Cemetery. Tons of history. It is also next to the memorial for the victims of the Salem witch trials.

Very old, walking distance from most things visited in the area. It's surrounded by stores and restaurants.

They are now changing the way you can visit the Cemetery. They only let so many people in at a time and you can ONLY walk on the path.

Our group loves history and walking through history but we have to say, two out of the three people who work there REALLY need to be trained in customer service. We went into the gift shop and while there I asked the person behind the counter (Jeff) a question about the history of the building the exhibit and he bit my head off. I was like, "oh ok, that's interesting..." and before I could finish he again, very loudly spoke over me "AS I SAID...." and repeated his answer. Whoah!!! Another member of our party asked a question about an item in the shop and Jeff was loud and rude. All but one of us put down our items and walked out. Why would we give money to a shop that made us feel so unwanted? Then another man came in and he went outside. The last remaining person in our group to want to buy something asked the new gentleman how much a greeting card cost. The employee said "I don't know!" Our friend said "Oh, I wanted to buy it." the gentleman said "OK, $5!" which he did pay for. But it was odd.

We went outside and headed for the burying point. We encountered Jeff again, who BARKED at us "You have to come in by 3:45!!!! YOU MUST LEAVE BY 4pm" Looking at my watch and seeing we had 20 minutes before 3:45, I said "Ok, I am just waiting for my son before I go in." and he snapped again "FINE BUT YOU CANNOT COME IN AFTER 3:45!!"

Wow! My son came along and we went in and he basically YELLED the rules at us. This was not personal because he yelled at EVERYONE.

Great old cemetery (which is the only reason I am giving 4 stars) but you cannot leave the path so it is hard to see the some of the stones. That being said it is an old cemetery with important fragile stones so I get it. Joanne who also worked for the site was lovely and knowledgeable and made it a welcoming experience.

We were done well before 3:45pm let alone 4pm and had to head back to Jeff, who was continuing to bark at people.

Our group was then visiting the memorial on the outside of the burying point. One of our group was looking at the memorial for Bridget Bishop and my husband went to walk to her, which meant walking passed Jeff who quickly blocked the gate in a manor as though he feared my husband was going rush the graveyard gate. I know it's his job but read the room and let people know the rules without treating them like you are putting them in the stocks. Not every one is out to break the rules. I don't think I will go back because it was just so over the top. I'm just a history lover just trying to connect the dots of history.

Great site, worth the visit, just be prepared for the vibe.

To stand at that place is humbling. It makes you understand that you're not just looking at old headstones but rather you're now part of that history.

In the center of the cemetery they have a plaque that shows you all the locations for the dead people. Someone from the mayflower is buried there it’s not that big maybe spend 10 min as you are walking to your next destination.

Wish that someone had protected the grave markers, as they are mostly indecipherable. No rubbings allowed. Take note to read the witch memorial that is surrounding one end. Names and dates, and is a beautiful memorial.

This place has very old stones and a memorial for a some people accused of being a witch. I put sea shells down as a mark of remembrance. It was awesome. i saw a random bunny there too. it was cute. looked just like mine at home. But the stones are cool and have plenty of names.

We visited this cemetery on our way up the east coast. Worth the visit to see some of our history (good & bad).

Of course if you do not like visiting cemetries then I would not recommend this. That being said it is peaceful, tranquil and moving. You also learn the history of some of the former residents.

This is near the memorial for the victims of the witch trials. There are helpful plaques with information, but it’s also nice (if you love history and old cemeteries) to just wander around.

Don't miss walking through this free cemetery where most of Salem's history is located. The grave markers and the people buried here offer a variety of how things change in history including a Mayflower Pilgrim.

Closed to the public. ;) disappointed. Understand the need for crowd control but should allow structured walk through.

Don't miss it. This is a must see. Try to see with a tour so you get the background. Cool to visit in the evening.

Just wow! My 8 year old was fascinated with reading the gravestones. It was cold and the ground was muddy, I could imagine spending more time walking around reading the gravestones in warmer weather

You have to take a look through the cemetery. It’s an important stop on any historic tour of the area.

Neat spot but the staff made it very uncomfortable. The man at the gate did not speak to anyone just barked orders. I respond so much better being spoken to as though I didn't commit a crime.

This cemetery is a must see when visiting Salem. The lightening tree and the tribute to those accused that were put to death are some interesting points to see. It is too bad that the cemetery seems to be over-worn with people trampling around on the final resting place of many dead, but I'm not sure if limiting access to the public would be beneficial. Hopefully access can be maintained somehow while limiting the wear and tear on the grounds.

A vast cemetery with many reputable family plots. Very historic and beautiful. The original bridge has been replaced with a modern bridge.

Something about the trees being bare, still at the end of April,made my visit here feel as if the spirits of the dead one were close by. Also the fact that it is attached to the Memorial Burying grounds . The air feels different at these two places. It is exactly the kind of feeling I was hoping to find in Salem

This is nice old cemetery (if you're in to those places) with some old headstone which are in very good shape. We made a nice liesurely walk through the cemetery looking some of the headstones we could read. It's worth a look. I would have given 5 stars but some of the vegetation was blocking parts of the headstones making it difficult to read. They should tidy up the place.

An old cemetery next to the witch trial memorial so another evocative place especially at night. It was closed when I visited for works but it was reoepning very soon. None of the witches were buried hear but it's still woth a brief visit to sample the atmosphere.

I thought I had to go hunt when it literally was to my left or right after visiting the memorial. The headstones are blurred but some are fresh b/c of family members? Difficult to tell. In the afternoon, with the sunlight and crowds, the eeriness of the place disappears but in the evening chill, there may be shadows that linger. Nice walk and fun discoveries. Take a rest under the big tree. It whispers in the wind.

Small but well stocked with notable figures. Located right beside the primary 1692 memorial an d very near artist's row.

We explored the memorial and the cemetery looking for gravestones of relatives. It would have been a lot easier if there was a directory.

Salem is a wonderfully interesting place and I wish I could have spent more time there. I visited this graveyard and was fascinated by the graves. The tyrants that sentenced those poor innocent people to death are buried here and the gravestones are still clear enough to read. There are other interesting headstones too. I know it sounds macabre but it isn’t.

This is a neat cemetery to visit. I would strongly recommend visiting this while in the area. There are graves from the 1600's and it is next to the Salem Witch Memorial. Easy to find and walk to from most of the Salem tourist areas.

We stopped here and did our own tour, so it did not cost us anything you just were asked to stay on the path very old. In some cases you could not read the headstones, but others you could preserved, as well as it could be a lot of history is here. it’s a nice short little walk.

Saw this cemetery years ago with a guide and this time I showed my granddaughter the stones and tried to remembered some of the stories. But a tour guide is a must. Also looked like it was quite trampled down.

This is a must-see when visiting Salem. It is beautiful and the history of the place is amazing. The witch memorial is connected to it honoring the victims of the witch hanging phenomena and inside the cemetery itself you can find the headstone of the hanging judge himself John Hathorne. The cemetery is small and there is one entrance and one exit, we visited right before Halloween and it was packed. They do close it after dark so make sure you get there beforehand to walk around it.

The old cemetery is worth a quick walk by. A lot of the headstones look suspiciously new or redone, which altered the feel of the whole place for me.

It opened up when we got there. It was clean, historic and sad to visit. It is next to the Memorial and free. Lots of interesting facts. A must visit.

This is such a wonderful old cemetery. Weathered gravestones mark the final resting places for some of old Salem’s most notable residents. It is well maintained and monitored.

It was amazing to find that this cemetery is in the middle of very much modern day Salem. On one side it abuts the Witch Trial Memorial, but the other rubs against a modern day haunted house type attraction, which seemed insanely inappropriate to me, a person who thinks burying is a waste space.

The photos here are very generous to the current state of the place. It's a very small cemetery. Headstones are falling over and crumbling and the "path" is just ground that's been trampled all over. Incredibly rude tourists were everywhere, laying on the tombs, kids squealing and running all over, goth kids taking suggestive pictures against 17th century headstones, you get the picture.

While the headstones themselves are incredible, unless you go in the way off season, the carnival atmosphere feels wrong. There is an actual pilgrim grave along with one of the witch trial judges. Maybe go early morning before the hordes descend.

This was my third visit, and I spent more time walking around reading the headstones than at the last words memorial, which is amazing. Cemetery is well taken care of and not too crowded other than the entrance and memorial. Absolutely worth visiting if in Salem. They offer tours too, that could be an interesting 'to do'.

Right next to the Salem Witch Trial Memorial. There is no parking really close. You will have to walk a block or two. ( the city has plenty of parking but there is a nominal fee)

It is a fairly small cemetery. It is not handicapped accessible. Lots of people walking through.

It is very old. Interesting to see the stones.

We visited the old cemetery where some of the Hawthorne family is buried although they spell their name differently than the author. It is neat to see how old the stones are. There are people throughout the cemetery telling you about the history of it.

This cemetery is very old and it shows. Unfortunately some headstones are broken and others the carving has worn away due to nature, but all around is history and it is beautiful to see.

An experience you should have while in Salem. It’s centrally located to everything. It’s sad to think about the 200 innocents that were hung due to mass hysteria within a community. The cool part is that there isn’t a gate between the accused and the accusers... meaning the accusers will have to atone to the wrongs they did in the after life. There is a beautiful memorial area and it’s really interesting seeing the tomb stones that date so far back.

It was pretty interesting to go to this cemetery. They have a plaque of where everyone significant is buried. Enjoyed my 10 minutes there paying respect to the dead. Also, remember to always exit out backwards of the cemetery as a sign of respect & to ward off bringing home spirts !

Salem is many things: a city steeped in literary and marine history, an emerging Mecca for foodies and pub crawlers, a sea side oasis with parks and beaches to visit, swim, picnic and relax in. It possesses one of the most unique and visited museums in the USA—PEM, as well as museums and specialized theatrical experiences chronicling its rich history. Yet, even though it is Ground Zero for Halloween, it’s darkest chapter is the Salem Witch Trials and the subsequent and tragic suffering and murder of those falsely accused of witchcraft. This particular cemetery is the most relevant and sobering place to visit in Salem. Erected as a memorial adjacent to some of the very perpetrators of this hysteria, this is a solemn place to visit. The victims are memorialized by granite slabs jutting out from a granite wall, with the names, dates, and manner of execution these unfortunate, innocent souls suffered. Salem is a jubilant city, for sure; but this is a necessary reminder to us all of the consequence of hysteria and scapegoating.This is a destination that gives us pause and should stir in us a solemn remembrance of the past.

It's sad they do not keep the place cleaned up better, out of respect for the families buried there, considering that is what bring so much income to their area. Hope that changes soon!

There is a very vague map of all the graves of interest. However it’s nearly impossible to find them. There should be markers to identify. There is one unmarked tomb of Mary Corey (I hope I spelled it correctly) who was Giles Corey’s wife who was also murdered during witch trials. Many graves need to be restored as they are broken, sunken or falling over. Very sad that Salem puts so much hype on the witch trials (and technically it started in Danvers) and they can’t even maintain graves but they can support opening demonic temples, occult stores and witch museums. Disgusting!

Eerily beautiful site. Enjoyed learning this is the second oldest cemetery in the USA. The memorials were laid with flowers and mementos to honor those wrongfully persecuted. This is a must see site.

For some reason, I’ve always had a fascination for old cemeteries. Future apartment hunting, perhaps? Anyway, this was no disappointment. Weathered old stone markers, cool old trees, entertaining squirrels...although due to their age, many were difficult to read, but it was still fascinating to me.

Peaceful setting in the middle of Salem! Stones are so old some of them have been worn smooth. You can see how man people have been there because of the well worn paths in and around the stone. The trees appear ancient. Makes one wonder what secrets they hold. Encourage history and witch visitors alike to visit here. I would NOT encourage those with children to visit unless well behaved. B this I mean not allowing them to crawl all over the stones and crypts/tombs. While this IS a tourist attraction, it's STILL a cemetary.

Like most New England towns, Salem has a downtown cemetery that traces its roots back to the 1630's with old slate tombstones. This cemetery is directly adjacent to the Witch Trial Victims National Monument and one block south of Essex Street. This was one of my favorite parts of Salem as it was not overrun commercialization and much more authentic Salem.

Every year I travel to Salem at least once in October. It's just a fun festive time of year to be there. I always enjoy taking a stroll through the cemetery. There has been a lot of repair and restoration and I was lucky enough to be there in time for a walk through before the gates were shut. It's just a cool familiar place to be that for the most part doesn't change which I love. Be sure to stay on the path, take pictures and see what pops up, and respect the grounds. I hope to visit for many more years to come.

not every day you see a cemetery that's been around over 350 years. this cemetery is a neat thing to see if you are walking by. it was closed to tourists on our visit so a view from the roadside is all we had. we also took another trip by in the evening and it was quite spooky. I would recommend stopping by to see this if you are in the area.

This was an interesting stop and really need to see all of the old historical gravesites. Admission is free. Worth a visit.

This is a must to your Salem visit. Was beautiful seeing the memorial and getting a chance to pay our respects.

We walked Salem on a really quick stop and found this to be the most interesting thing to see, it really brought the feeling of history.

A cemetery with graves dating back to the 17th century. Free entry to explore around. Gravestones are fragile and you are urged to remain on path. Lots of historical people are buried here, including the Salem Witch trials as well as some Mayflower passage individuals.

We made this stop one of the "must do" for our Salem trip and was a bit disappointed when we arrived. It is an old cemetary and has some interesting old stones, but other than that it didnt have anything that showed us relevance to the witch trials. I wish we'd known more of what to expect on this stop so we could have spent our time in other spots.

Historic cemetery that is worth a visit. Make sure to do research on the cemetery before visiting so you don’t miss any interesting graves. You especially don’t want to miss the lightning tree (a tree struck by lightning several times growing out of a grave of a man who is there due to lightning).

The Old Burying Point Cemetery is a tranquil, historic cemetery right in the heart of Salem. It would be nice to take a guided tour to learn more about the people resting here.

If you are in Salem, this is a must go place. You are not allowed to do any tombstone rubbing and there is a sign that states that. Nice short walk and dog friendly.

The second oldest cemetery in the United States. What more reason would you need to visit? This is a must. Take your time. You will enjoy every moment.

Very interesting to walk around such old markers. They put their dead Behind the marker, so that took some time to get used to. The town is in conflict how to treat this site so your view may become restricted in the future.

This cemetery is not far from the major tourist areas, and will be busier than most cemeteries you'll find elsewhere (given the nature of Salem) but it's still a fairly peaceful place, with some impressively old graves

Visited on a semi-cold, rainy day which seemed perfect for this type of visit. Given the age of many of these markers, they are in amazing shape. It was interesting to see the types of common icons on the markers and read the inscriptions. Many graves are from the 1600's to early 1700's and represent the families of the early settlers in the area.

We took the tour at night and this place closes during the month of October due too much traffic during halloween season, I had the chance to go in month before, but I did take pictures during night time.
Interesting place.

Such a neat cemetery! We chose to go to Salem to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials but learned they don't want to be known for that part of their history. So it was great to be able to go through this cemetery as well as the Salem Witch Trial memorials right beside it.

Visited in October. Luckily we walked through mid week and was able to take our time viewing. Observed entrance on Saturday and Sunday and there was a wait line to get in. Well managed by staff but still a decent wait.

Super old cemetery with lots of history. There’s a memorial there to the “witches” that was very nice. Well kept. We went back at night too.

This is a nice very, very old cemetery.. Don’t touch the old stones, they’re fragile. The witches memorial is adjacent so you Can tour both at the same time. Only takes a few minutes.

It was neat to see such old graves. It was a litlle difficult to follow the map that is at the beginning of the trail. I am sure if a tour comes through that more info is given by the guide.

Fascinating place! Opens to the public at 11 am, no admission fee needed. Entrance is just down the street a little from the Witch Trials Memorial. Upon entering, look for the bronze map on a stone at the front of the cemetery before you venture in to give yourself a "whos who" of who is buried there so you can be on the lookout as you walk the pathways.

A lot of the tombstones are unreadable but that doesn’t take away from the significance of the site. Take your time, read the headstones and please be respectful. We saw tourists doing some really disrespectful things (like lying on the graves and pretending to be dead for picture). I think people don’t realize that this is a real cemetery with very real people buried here. Also, I would suggest you be cognizant that there are head and foot stones in this cemetery if you don’t like walking on graves. A lot of the markers have pretty details and it is fun to see old English where you can. Pay special attention to trees and other hidden areas where there are forgotten graves. I look forward to the restoration the city has planned.

We spent a half hour wondering the cemetery. The dates were unimaginable as to how far back in time they went.

A small, old cemetery with a few neat graves. There were a lot of people looking around when I visited. A quick 5-minute walk around is all you really need here to get the gist of the place.

We walked through rather quickly (I have three young children), but they were interested in some of the gravestones. You can spend as much or as little time as you'd like in here. During October, they do limit the number of people in the cemetery at one time. There is also a specific entry and an exit.

There wasn't much there, but the price was right and it was an interesting walk around, and chance to stretch our legs. The tombstones were interesting.

Not much to see visited on Halloween was just a bunch of headstone that we old and hard to read . It looks like it’s being preserved and maybe more will be added it would have been better if they had someone there talking about people buried there I would have paid for a tour guide .

This is next to the Witches Memorial. No tickets needed to walk through this cemetery. It was worth the visit. Probably should have done a walking tour that was narrated to really learn about all this cemetery has to offer for history buffs.

This cemetery is really cool to look at, I just wish we would have been able to go inside to actually walk around. Currently it is under some much needed renovation so it you can’t go inside but the sign says it should be open in the next few months. We will have to come back to check it out when it is done.

Lots of super old graves here with very rich history!
We loved exploring this cemetery and reading the things in the stones. We were glad there were people outside reminding visitors of proper etiquette to preserve these graves.

Interesting to tour this & read the headstones that are still legible. The "Witches" are in a separate section next to the main part.

When you go to Salem obviously you want to hear about the main reason the town is famous, and that is thw witch trials. The memorial to those who were murdererd ( call it what it was ) is thoughfull but then it becomes a tourist attraction with hundreds of people walking around and in many cases over the graves of other poor departed souls. I was dissapointed in Salem as it is not what I expected but I am not totally happy with the use of the graveyard sight as a tourist attraction.

This is a resting place for significant people, in a period of time . It was very busy and walked through almost loosing its significance from the distraction of all the people . The stones are very old and unreadable and hard to comprehend with a tour guide.

Well, it’s Salem in October. I’d read up on the poor souls in this graveyard first. Lots of folks in witchery, some space cadets acting out, but all in all a pretty interesting plsce.

Very interesting to see the graves some of which are so old. Some lived to their 70's or 80.s. Amazing for those days. Went in early October and the crowds were so big they would only let in 30 at a time. Had to wait over 1/2 an hour. Every time they were about to let us in a tour would come by and would go ahead of us and we had to wait again. Boo! Hiss! City getting a kick back maybe? Recommend you visit this and many other sites at a different time. Every year there are more and more people there in October. October is great for walking around and soaking up the Halloween atmosphere and see the many vendors set up. Recommend going another time to visit the museums to avoid 1/2 to 1 hour wait times.

Steeped in history. Wish there had been a tour explaining some of the larger family plots but was amazing just the same.

Located near Salem witch Village, this is a must-tour if going to Salem. Amazing to see the inscriptions and how many years back this cemetery goes. Visiting in October was perfect for weather and walking everywhere.

Salem has a rich history and was a vital maritime community. Headstones were interesting to read for those still in fair shape. Peaceful at sunset. Worthwhile to walk through and imagine what life was like here close to 400 years ago.

I'm handicapped so getting to the Old Burying Point was a bit difficult with no parking very near. We went early in the morning on a Tuesday so there weren't a lot of people there. It was surreal to stand there and see these centuries old graves and know what some of them partook in.

This is a small cemetery to see while in Salem. It has a lot of older graves from people born in the 1600 and 1700s. Due to age, a lot of the graves are hard to read. One of the most well known ones is the judge who convicted the witches during the Salem Witch Trials. It was quick to walk around. A guide does stand next to the gate that can help answer any questions. Maps cost extra.

Saw this cemetery from a tour. The slate stones that are in the photo for the site are in excellent condition. The cemetery is smaller than I expected, but has a lot of very old graves. Interesting to see stones from that era!

Stopped by here while wandering around Salem, and it's a very unique piece of history! So glad that this place has been preserved for so long and you can still see what unique tombstones are left from times past. It's eerie to think of all the people that found this plot of land to be their final resting place.

We saw this just before Salem closed the site for restoration (September 28 through November 3, 2019). One entrance has a bronze map to help find some of the more famous occupants. For example, we located the stone of John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem witch-trials and great-great-grandfather of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. (Notice the "w" the author added to his name to distance himself from this colorful ancestor.) We also found Captain Richard More, an indentured servant on the Mayflower, who eventually became a sea-captain. In another section, you can see memorials for all the witch-trial victims and their date of death.

I feel like this is the best part of visiting Salem for the witch trial history. It doesn't give a lot of information but it is very old and serene. It is not cheesy like some of the other museums/exhibits in Salem.