Peabody Essex Museum Reviews

This is an excellent museum in the heart of Salem. The permanent collection is large and eclectic, and the exhibits are consistently well curated and interesting.

Beautiful museum with a lot of rich history. We easily spent an entire day here, and with us going in spring it wasn't busy at all. We had a lot of exhibits to ourselves so we could really take our time.

Only complaint was that the museum was hard to navigate even with a map. Poor signage had us going in circles before we finally figured out where to go. I feel like this is normal in art museums though, as I've gotten lost in the ones in DC as well ha.

Overall a good experience and definitely a must see at least once. Plan to be there the entire day because unless you're zooming through not reading anything it will take some time to go through.

Small, average museum. My main disappointment was that it is situated in the heart of Salem and there is practically nothing in the museum that pertains to the history of Salem. While I enjoyed the very large amount of Asian influenced displays, I could not help but remark that there was only two paintings depicting the Salem witch trials and a very small display of the devastating fire that destroyed much of the town. Why not embrace the rich and interesting history of the area that the museum is in? I was disappointed.

The architecture of the Peabody Essex Museum is beautiful.
we enjoyed all of the exhibits, primarily the Asian exhibit which included a film on opium and how Western powers used it to control China, not a proud event.
The outdoor watergarden. The ocular opening on the top floor, looking through it and it it....viewing from both sides. The museum is both a visual delight as well as a learning experience.

The PEM's ever-expanding array of special exhibits has reached a new level with the current exhibit focused on the Empresses of China. Tracing the history and culture surrounding these women -- some powerful, some not -- is remarkable. Most of the exhibits come from China, but they are supplemented by some of PEM's own holdings, donated to them over the years. While there are many high points, I was enthralled by the beautiful clothing.

There are, of course, many more things to see at the wonderful museum. One disappointment is that the museum's restaurant is now closed because of construction. There is a cafeteria, but there are better options at nearby restaurants, including the historic Hawthorne Hotel just a block away.

Lots of art pieces in here - they were generally very good but I thought it was going to be more of relics from around the world. Castro sculpture is incredible.

Fascinating place, well worth a visit. There's a lot to see, all arranged in a space like a maze. In addition to the timed-ticket Qing house, we really liked the maritime galleries and the rooms devoted to Asian export items. Some curatorial decisions are a bit dubious, when it comes to mixing things up in order to be politically correct... we understand the need for this, but sometimes it's better to let visitors just look at stuff and come to their own conclusions. In any event, this lovely museum brims with world-class objects! We could have easily stayed longer than 3 hours (with a break for lunch in the nice cafe). Hope to go back again someday.

The facility is beautiful, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the galleries are well laid out. We visited thinking this was the museum that had all the sailing vessels and ship replicas from the 1700s-1800s -- but once we stopped someone and asked, we were told all those pieces were in storage for a new expansion that is scheduled for next year.
Having said that, the current exhibitions contain high-quality art, textiles, ceramics and special exhibits including one on photography. Good for at least an hour.

On exhibit now is a Chinese house that was disassembled in China and reassembled on site at the museum, it was like being transported to China. The exhibit was enlightening and really gave a peek at life in Communist China.

This is a beautiful, huge, wide open museum with a variety of displays. There is so much to see, you'll probably have to budget your time.
Our guide had trouble managing her time, and would spend too much time on one area and rush through another. Overall, it was impressive if a little overwhelming.

My family and I came here on August 21st (2019). We went through the Chinese House, which is the ONLY thing that is interesting. Otherwise, it's a boring museum that will make one fall asleep while standing up. Spent almost 3 hours here is in utter torture of how boring it was. Recommended time to be here is 1 hour or maybe 2 hours before boredom sets in.

The only real good thing about this place, besides the Chinese House, is the food stands. I got the Caesar salad with chicken and it was pretty good.

this is a small museum with a great collection, the Chinese house is great but I truly enjoy the American wing, they have a collection that teaches you about how life was in America and I took my children, it was like a history lesson.

This museum is huge, way bigger than it looks from outside!

Lots of incredible exhibits. Vast amounts of information to take in, so maybe if you're on a timer, go in with the expectation that you will not be reading all the info signs.

If you wanted to read everything you could spend 5+ hours here.

The one downside for us was the Native American exhibit was almost entirely 17th century to present day. I guess much of the older native history is lost or much rarer for museums to acquire? We had hoped to learn more about the natives pre-settler.

But aside of that one minor gripe, this place is one of the best museums in the whole of New England.

Even though the daily Covid infection rate for MA exceeds SC’s, and the overall Covid death rate per 100,000 population for MA is nearly double that of SC (nice going, by the way, MA!), they refuse admission to visitors from South Carolina. Unscientific, reactionary, and just plain dumb.

I confer upon the PEM this title because it is the eighth most visited museum in the USA. If you need only one reason to visit Salem, this is it. Its origins as a maritime museum and one that chronicled America's earliest trade artifacts regarding China, the PEM has blossomed into an exhibition-rich entity, unafraid to engage in every era of American and world art and aesthetics. Some have been startling in their thematic pursuits: Birds playing Gibson electric guitars, moving stick machines, a history of horror movie posters, the best Georgia O'Keefe retrospective I've ever seen, the story and artifacts of the great, miraculous Ernest Shackleton Arctic exploration and rescue, a fully reconstructed China House, and so much more. The folks than run this place are incredibly welcoming, informed, and are there to round out a museum experience that never feels forced or fake. The educational component is kid friendly and the ancillary programs that invite social and artistic participation demonstrate what a museum should be. Also, the buildings are remarkably interesting and comfortable, each addition representing a tasteful architectural and historical aesthetic. As a resident of Salem, the PEM is a sanctuary of art, insight, and inspiration.

The museum was part of our City Pass or we likely wouldnt have gone in but it did have a unique collection of exhibits. The customer service experience was not the best- lacked friendliness we experienced in other locations in Salem.

When in the area we always visit the PEM. The special exhibit A Passion for American Art was more interesting than I anticipated (nice to be rich) and we did tours of the 18th and 19th century homes owned by the museum. But the museum is undergoing some major projects and for instance the great Maritime collection will not be on view until 9/28. Just be aware

Beautiful museum with just the right amount of exhibits that you didn't feel overwhelmed or lost in the building. We spent about 2 hours here.

This 0-star review for ***Patricia*** is long overdue.

As part of a fun family outing, we went to PEM to tour Yin Yu Tang and the rest of the museum. Given our Chinese culture, we were especially excited to tour this historical gem. Everyone we came across was incredibly welcoming and kind, with the exception of one person and that was Patricia. Older lady with long light hair and wearing all white. To be perfectly candid, she reminded me of an actual witch. Within minutes, her condescending words, behavior, and actions toward us tainted such a special experience.

We were definitely on time for the tour, even several minutes early, but were given misinformation by the person who checked us in. Innocent mistake. When we were finally directed to Patrica's location, she started berating us in front of the entire group. She kept the focus squarely on us, instead of continuing to do her job. Absolute bully. She also refused to give us audio guides, saying to everyone "they can figure it out on their own" as she started walking toward Yin Yu Tang and completely refusing to help us. There were two couples in our group who were so kind and offered us their audio guides and they would share with each other, so we wouldn't have to "figure it out on our own." Can't believe Patricia refused to give us audio guides. And it was plain mean to have my sister go all the way back out to the entrance area for the stroller, instead of telling her about the much closer option right behind us. Blatant unprofessionalism and pettiness.

On the opposite spectrum of Patricia, I would like to share my highest praises for these staff members: Okiyo, Jaime, Dave, and Tom. I'd love each of these folks to know what an awesome job they're doing. Tom has so much enthusiasm, knowledge, and passion for his work and is a wonderful storyteller with an incredible sense of humor and people skills. Dave and our family clicked right away. He went out of his way to show us some exhibits and was so knowledgeable about everything. Such a pleasure to chat with him. Jaime is an exceptional human and was such an excellent listener about our experience with Patricia. He is a wonderful asset to PEM. Okiyo was the one who got the ball rolling when I approached her inside Yin Yu Tang for some guidance on how to handle this Patricia situation. Okiyo understood the situation right away and was so professional and helped me every step of the way.

Patricia needs to learn from these role models, because she is clearly lacking in basic people skills. She was a conniving bully toward us and the staff I talked with agreed with that assessment, even shedding more light by giving more examples of her personality and demeanor.

Again, bravo to the staff members I mentioned above who helped save our experience at PEM!

Great and modern museum in a small town! I was excited to be able to see a Singer Sargent portrait in the Salem stories gallery. The Chinese house was under preservation work while we were there but I’m just glad they have the funding to keep that up (preservation work is so important so if they have to close an exhibit while that’s under way then so be it). The Salem witch trials exhibit was informative. The art and other artifacts were interesting and overall great displays. We really appreciated the American hall which juxtaposed indigenous art and artifacts with European/colonialism artifacts and history since it’s important to see how colonialism impacted indigenous history and you don’t often see that in museums.

The PEM is a wonderful way to spend a few hours (you could probably spend most of the day here) and a great way to escape the crowded streets if you are in Salem during Halloween-time. Admission was reasonable ($20) and they had a promotion for Bank of America cardholders while we were there (Free entry with BOA card). There are many different exhibits, plus a cafe. Bonus points for a great clean bathroom if you are in Salem for the day as a tourist.

We visited the PEM yesterday after lunch, with our young adult daughter and saw a number of interesting exhibits. We liked the furniture exhibit of Peter & Barbara Lynch, beautiful pieces from their residence collections. The biomimicry exhibit in the Pod was also amazing, for adults as well as children. Included is one photo of a sensor array inspired by nature.

We finished up with an exhibit on Japanese ceramics and carvings, and then a photography exhibit by an inquisitive photographer. Each are well worth viewing.

Well put together displays, but we were hoping for more artifacts and archival information. It felt like more of an art gallery

Very interesting museum with very varied collections. I recommend it for families with children aged 12 and over.

Saw Olivia Parker's Photography Exhibit It is open until September 2019. It is a "don't miss". You will regard photography in a whole new way. The museum is gorgeous architecturally with interesting exhibits. The Chinese tea house is a gem. This Museum is well worth the visit.

Not what you would expect to find in the city of Witch History and novelty but definitely worth the visit and is exceptionally easy to find but may be overlooked because it is right in the middle of all the witch history. Don't forget to visit the Museum's gift shop as well.

This museum tells many stories, from the witch trials, to Native Americans, to the naval trades and all the peoples met in those years. Stories told well and fascinating. Not to be missed.

I've been here in the past but the museum has expanded greatly. The new addition is magnificent. The exhibits used to emphasize the colonial and seafaring history of Salem. The new exhibits highlight the cultures of the places where Salem seafarers traded. There is even a reconstructed Chinese home from centuries past.

This was a nice break from the Halloween crowd. I was expecting more of a history museum, however this was more of an art museum. All of the exhibits were interesting and the cultural and historical significance of the art was well explained. The museum is well laid out. Definitely worth exploring!

Flew up from NC specifically for the Empresses of China’s Forbidden City exhibit. Outstanding experience. Very much enjoyed the permanent Maritime Art and History collection and the tour of the Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese House as well. Parking deck and great restaurants within easy few minutes walking distance.

This large and excellent exhibit is ending shortly. See it if you can. The cafe is a little awkward but can be made to work.

We are from out of town .. only place to ask for our negative covid-19 test. Great to see the actual documents from witch trials and examinations. The language has change so much over the past 400 years.

The PEM is a beautiful museum and many extra exhibits to see like the house tour. We ran into a volunteer known by my friend who walked through the environmental exhibit. She was so knowledgeable about the art and giving of her time. Thanks for the lesson.
The historic house tours were excellent! Highly recommend the PEM. Parking is close by and pretty cheap with so many things to do before or after your visit.

Great museum with many things to see, including the ancestral home of the Huang family known as Yin Yu Tang. There are many other galleries to visit as well.

I recently attended the Peabody Essex Museum to view the permanent exhibits on maritime history. However, East India Marine Hall was totally empty, and when I went downstairs to look at the museum's ship models, could find only half-empty or closed galleries where the ship models had been. I asked at the information counter why so much was closed, and was told that many exhibits were in storage for protection because the museum's most recent expansion was not yet complete. I then asked why the museum charged full price when so much was closed or in storage. The individual replied that the museum was discussing whether to discount the admission fee, but had not yet reached a final decision. (They had better hurry; the three year construction is almost done!)

It was at this point that an older, white-haired, overweight woman came up and interjected herself uninvited into the conversation. She said she had been a docent for the museum for over twenty years, and asked how much I had paid for admission. I replied I wasn't sure, as my wife had purchased our tickets, but I thought it was about $18. She then thrust a twenty dollar bill toward me. I said I didn't want her money, and she arrogantly replied "Oh yes you do". I repeated that no, I didn't want her money, and that I simply thought it was not right for the museum to charge full price while many galleries were closed and exhibits placed in storage. (Incidentally, the Musee Picasso in Paris charged half price while it was undergoing renovations.) She then again arrogantly said that she would refund any visitors' entrance fee if they so desired. I could see that further conversation with this unpleasant woman would be a waste of time so immediately left the museum.

I have never been treated so rudely or condescendingly by any employee (or docent) at any other venue in the world as I was by this representative of the Peabody Essex Museum. The museum has some serious problems with this particular docent, who should be terminated immediately. Hopefully, other docents do not have her deplorable, aggressive, and arrogant attitude.

This museum is a place not to be missed. It has something for everyone. We enjoyed the "Empresses" exhibition very much, Glad to have experienced it.
Every I viti the PEM I find something new and interesting to discover.

Ieh Peabody Essex (or PEM as locals call it) is a truly world class museum. I live in Salem. There are some great things to see in Salem (House of Seven Gables, Chestnut Street architecture, etc.) and a lot of "tourist ticky tack". The PEM will justify a visit to Salem all by itself.

The current exhibit Our Time on Earth presents a number of radical suggestions to combat climate change and will certainly generate conversation. We also took the opportunity to tour the Chinese House (free with admission but timed tickets). The courtyard cafe is also very nice for lunch or a snack.

Salem is a pretty dull place full of fairly tired witch museums and this is a decent and architecturally interesting alternative to that.

This was a lovely underrated museum. I was expecting something...well, smaller or more run-down or more provincial. It was none of that. This is a new space, with both regional, historical art but also with global, contemporary art. The Chinese house is fascinating, and the rotating exhibits that we saw (Breathe being one of them) were great. Attached photo from a Muslim artist. Highly recommend.

Mix of contemporary and old art covering the United States, Japan, China, and India. The museum includes several interaction areas that small children may find interesting and help them connect with what they are seeing. They have a Chinese house assembled on the grounds provides context to the collection.

One of the country's largest art museums is perfectly stuck in Witch City. Although the museum does not display of any the artifacts from the 1692 period, it does have a wealth of international art and maritime history. The museum is a great experience for those who aren't on the spooky train or simply love history and art. Admission is normally priced for this type of attraction.

Definitely a nice stop if you are looking for a break from all of the witchy things. They have a beautiful collection of Asian art (I especially loved the art of Japan!) and a very cool exhibition on maritime artwork.

Very nice to go and get off the busy streets of Salem and enjoy some quiet time! Very cool painting, artists, Salem history and even HelloKitty. The “just breathe” exhibit was so relaxing I almost fell asleep —- much needed!

The curation is frenetic and confusing. Historical items are mixed in with newly created objects, and noisy video “testimonials” are piped into many rooms at volume, without regard to relevance to the articles on display, making any concentration or consideration of the articles impossible. Trendy “takes” are offered vs considered perspectives. A true disappointment as the collections are potentially rich and illuminating

Thanks to the Chines House! Without that exhibit the trip would have been a total waste.

A lot of excellent art . From various areas in the world and many ages. American painting so good to see the old days and the frontier
The Chinese house was fascinating, taken down brick by brick and moved here.
All staff very helpful and knowledgeable.

Every time we come here, we are reminded of the variety of their exhibits. Every visit leaves me wanting to read and learn more about one of the topics addressed at PEM. The two exhibits we focused on this visit were: The Great Animal Orchestra and Each/Other.

The Great Animal Orchestra was not what I expected and after 15 minutes we almost left. Once you calm your desire to "see" something going on and settle down to only "hear", it is pretty amazing. Most amazing - and terrifying is the piece half way through where the artist plays for you the sounds of a place over a period of years. The increasing silence makes one want to cry.

Each/Other was equally fascinating but in a totally different way. Don't just walk by the tower of blankets. Read the dozens of tags for a sense of history and community. It was pretty amazing really. Loved the artists way of joining people from all over the world in their art.

I had time to spare so why not visit the museum. I came within an hour of closure so I was able to get a discounted rate, but I also had to rush the exhibits a little bit.

There was such a good variety of art. There is a Japanese exhibit, Chinese and Indian exhibits. I've never seen Indian art in a museum and I liked that. Along with other cultures there was the 'Black Atlantic' exhibit which was interesting as well, because again it's not something I've seen in a museum to that extent. So I really appreciated that. There was also an open room which reminded me museums in Paris.

Visiting PEM museum is something you'll regret. If I wasn't pressed on time I'd easily spend another 45 minutes exploring.

Excellent museum, much larger then we thought so we didn't give ourselves enough time to thoroughly enjoy. But that means we will go back for another visit. Didn't realize we had to buy tickets in advance to see the 200 year old Yin Yu Tang (Chinese) house - we wanted to see if it was similar to ones we have visited in China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Most of these types of houses in Asia have been lost due to modernization, which is sad. So next visit we will purchase tickets ahead of time.
We loved all the Asian exhibits - especially the hand painted wallpaper from China.

This is a terrific museum in the heart of Salem. The collection is eclectic, and so too are the shows. The consistent theme is that the curatorial staff is remarkably talented: We have attended many shows that were not of any special interest, but which turned out to be remarkably good.

The Peabody Essex Museum exceeded my expectations. We visited on a day with free admission! Upon entry, the staff was phenomenal - very knowledgeable and friendly. The lobby has a small cafe - perfect for a quick snack before exploring the massive museum. My husband gave a huge thumbs up to their bloody mary.

The museum is massive and contains a smattering of various topics. My favorites were the Yin Yu Tang home and Anila Quayyum Agha’s sculpture, which left me awe-struck. Unfortunately, the Witch Trial exhibit is not open to the public until later in the Summer. We will be back soon to explore the remaining exhibits that we missed out on.

We went to Peabody museum today. At the front desk/ counter there were two windows with staffs. Both staffs were busy talking to some visitors. I was not sure where to buy the ticket. I approached this staff and asked her politely where to buy ticket. She was standing and seems like she was checking for ticket before you enter. She literally yelled at me saying go back to the line few times. She said I was blocking the path. There were 4 people in one window talking to one staff and one person talking to another staff. There was no one that I was blocking. Even if I was on the way, this is not the way to yell at people. I was with my 6 years old son and family. The staff was very rude. Anyways I said I understand and went to the staff and bought ticket. They gave us some clip like thing to put. We put that visually on the short. My wife put her on the strip of small bag she was wearing. The clip was visible and on the strap of the bag on the front. The same staff started yelling at her saying you need to put on the short not on your strap of the bag. I am not sure why it matters where you put it as long as it is visible. Anyways my wife put the clip on the shirt. While we were waiting for my wife to put the clip on her shirt, the staff starting saying if you want you can write complaint about me on information form and my name is Casey. She started arguing with us and was very rude. It is very disappointing and humiliating to be treated like this. There were other staffs who heard and saw her behavior but were quite. I have no words to explain how rude the behavior of the staff was, especially being the staff of such institution as museum. If your staff treats visitors with such bad attitude what is the culture of the institution?

Very well lit, not too big, not too small, well curated. Something for everyone. Last time I was there was 2007 before all the wonderful renovations and when the house had just been brought in but wasn't fully built. Yoyoma showed up back then and gave a free concert. But I left and hadn't been back since. The house tour was lovely - self guided, but you have to make sure you pace it because it's frail and small and people can be in very tight quarters. Staff is lovely. Really a gem!

It's kind of strange that such a modern space is right in the middle of Essex Street, surrounded by witchcraft stores and haunted houses. But it's a beautiful building with clean lines and lots of light. It also has one of the largest collections of Asian artifacts in America, which is another unusual aspect of the museum. The space is conveniently located and a nice reprieve from the heavily crowded tourist area during October.

Wondering who can name that boat? 🙂
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Happy to say the Peabody Essex Museum is always surprising me with a great diversity of art and mediums. It is always a must do when you visit Salem.
Destination Salem, Massachusetts

easy to navigate, bright and cheerful. the 3 exhibits we saw were well done , unusual and thought provoking. don't miss the Chinese house moved to the Museum from China ( $6 extra). Parking near by.

I missed coming to the Peabody Essex Museum on my first trip to Salem, but made it a priority the next time. SO happy I did! Such an eclectic and well laid out museum with something for everybody. It surpassed my expectations.

I also recommend getting the separate ticket for the Chinese House, as that was a wonderful experience.

I'll definitely be back and highly recommend this to anyone coming into town.

This museum was a very nice escape from a rainy day in Salem. The exhibits were very nicely done, and the collections were quite sophisticated.

The Peabody Essex was highly recommended and now I see why. Witch history is only a tiny part of this huge sampling of world history. Three floors and a city block of cultures dominate this Essex Street mainstay. Spend an hour or more savoring the gorgeous delights this place has to offer.

Friends were visiting from Maine and we took them to PEM for their first visit. They were very impressed and we were also impressed with the new addition! The exhibits we visited at PEM: Maritime (many of the most unique maritime objects on display), Jacob Lawrence (26 of 30 panels from his series entitled The American Struggle based on 4 years of research that was truly thought provoking and disturbing), a huge sculpture by Yoan Capote's of Fidel Castro's head entitled Immanence (made out of brass door hinges with a base of some of the doors from which the hinges came from accompanied with a few photos showing person removing the hinges from the doors--all from Cuba's doors--must be seen to be believed) and a fascinating exhibit of highlights of PEM's stellar Fashion and Design collection which never previously had a permanent display area. As we were being ushered out at closing, we quickly perused the excellent Gift Shop with many unique items for sale including books, cards, toys, jewelry, clothing and many items to tempt you. The PEM continues to amaze with its creative approach to multicultural and historical art creating unique exhibits for all ages. We will have to come back to see the Art and Nature Center and the lovely, sinuous Garden in nicer weather. There is a lot to see (underestimate) and an excellent cafe to provide sustenance as needed.

Airy, Delightful and filled with phenomenal treasures. You'll leave feeling serene and smart. A definite enjoyable day well spent at the PEM.

The museum has many beautiful and interesting artifacts. We enjoyed the Yin Yu Tang house, fashion exhibit, the maritime art, Spirits: Tsherin Sherpa with Robert Beer, and Salem stories. Unfortunately the organization is set up so discourage people from completing enjoying the exhibits. I was in the Yin Yu Tang house, with my family, we were rushed out, before we could finish the audio information given to us to learn about the house and it’s history. When we mentioned this, docents said we know there isn’t enough time, but your time is up. Felt stalked by the docents, to the point I had to ask if I was doing something wrong or if I had broke a rule. They said no, but I felt so uncomfortable, how do you enjoy a place. I was also hounded in 5 minute increments to be told my time was coming to an end while in the Yin Yu Tang house, again I was trying to listen to audio. Their people skills at the museum, needs to be addressed. Wonderful history and so much that could be learned and horizons to be expanded, why discourage people? Go and enjoy but be aware of the barriers.

Just recently returned from the US and must recommend the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, particulary the current exibition, Empresses of China's Forbidden City. It is comprehensive, well-presented, well-researched, informative without being dull, simply an excellent job of curation. The accompanying, some ongoing exhibitions of Chinese Art, Asian Expot Art, China and Japan round out the authentic Asian experience. For those visitors who have never been to China both the exhibitions and the Yin Yu Tang Chinese House bring the a part of the country and culture to life.
Both Maritime Halls are also well worth visiting. And the Atrium offers a pleasant environment for refreshment during the afternoon.

I love this museum. Your admission ticket gives you access to historic houses, fabulous permanent art exhibits and temporary exhibits. The museum walks you through the area’s history with the sea, global trading and puritan roots. So interesting.

This is worth a visit and a trip. The building is wonderful to begin with but the special exhibitions on Chinese Art were amazing. The fixed exhibit on Maritime art has some very special pieces you would not see elsewhere.

I arrived early and had a lot of space to myself. Chinese house exhibit is so interesting, very small walkways, luckily I was the only visitor early in day. Under construction at the time of my visit but still cool. They use many ways to do self guided tours, I used the hand held device they provided. With that you enter the numbers that are located around exhibit to receive information on that specific area. They have free keyed lockers at the museum entrance, where you can store all you baggage, which was so freeing.

Advertising indicated a sizable exhibit of Forbidden City artifacts, when in reality there were two SMALL rooms with poor examples of Forbidden City artifacts. At an extra charge there was a replica of part of the Forbidden City which also left a lot to be desired. Many quality museums have better Chinese artifacts without the exaggerated promotion. Save your money

Peabody Essex Museum is a great stop while visiting Salem. They actually have a complete reconstructed ancient Chinese home. They also feature a variety of traveling exhibits. The new wing opens in September of 2019.

This museum has a great layout and is well maintained. This is my 2nd trip here and I still haven’t seen everything. Free lockers! Just ask at the desk for a key.

This has to be one of the BEST museums I have ever visited! The exhibits were so beautifully and artfully done. The care of the museum and the artists was extraordinary. This is a powerful, gorgeous museum. I will definitely be going back to this museum!

I spent 2hrs here exactly and looked at everything in detail - including watching all the films in the Chinese exhibit. I would strongly recommend taking your time to look around that section, the film on the wedding is shocking and educative. The photography exhibirs were both brilliant - I’m not at all interested in photography so was pleasantly surprised as not even one other exhibition has been able to keep my attention for so long and here they’ve managed it twice! Japanese exhibits are also very interesting and present some unusual pieces with unusual detail e.g Christian artwork. I also really liked the Frost paintings in the american section and it’s a pleasant place to walk through. Cafe disappointing, gift shop excellent.

Museum very interesting and approaching art in a refreshing way.
We oscillate between the modern and the old from room to room.
It is therefore interesting to draw parallels!
Part on the Salem trials very well explained and documented.

Nice, modern museum but displays were disappointing. The main exhibit hall is nice but staff were not present and when they arrived, were not helpful.

With its major expansion the PEM has emerged as a first order American museum, well worth a visit. It may be useful to think of PEM as several small museums housed together... american art, oriental art, Chinese house, maritime history, and glass. Off site is a huge research library as well. Has a really good shop and a pleasant cafe as well.

I wanted to see a specific exhibition and was not made aware that it would be an extra fee and you had to make an extra reservation for them.

When planning our trips we alway look at reviews to try and decide what to see and definitely what is worth the money. This museum is worth the price of admission just like all the other reviews we saw. The Native American section and the witch exhibit both tied to the area nicely. What we did not expect were the Japanese, Chinese and other art areas that had so many neat pieces to view but with no seeming ties to the area. Just a really nice art museum.

Make this your first stop to get the true historical facts behind the trials and see all the original artifacts on display. Then go enjoy the rest of the shops and museums from there for their entertainment value.

World class museum. So much to see. Go when it opens have lunch a few coffee breaks & leave when it shuts👍 Nice change from all the Witch Themed places in Salem. Well spaced out exhibits & friendly helpful staff make this a must visit.

Didn't do the museum but stopped into the museum shop and a quick bite at the indoor cafeteria style food area. Excellent place for a snack if you don't want a big meal. They were having exhibitions of China.

This museum was terrific. There is something for everyone to enjoy. We especially liked the art glass exhibit and all of the different exhibits of Asian art. The fashion exhibit was also fabulous. The Chinese house was undergoing renovations and it made it a bit hard to fully enjoy. The preservation was absolutely necessary so hopefully we have the ability to visit again in the future once the house has been fully restored.

The museum is lovely and would have liked to spend more time there. We went primarily to see the Witch Trial exhbition. Unfortunately the way the ticketing online went, it appears you can see it but when we arrived were told it was at capacity. They did offer a refund, which was nice but we refused it. the American exhibit on first floor was as far as we got but it was really impressive. Allow enough time to really enjoy this place.

The collection is so mixed I forgot what I was looking at. Pretty expensive ticket. I had higher expectations for this museum.

First of all, this museum is huge relative to its admission price. It is also beautifully curated. You could spend a whole day here, which is not what you may expect out of a trip to Salem, but that is a gift on a bad-weather day.

This is an exceptional museum located in the heart of Salem. The permanent collection is eclectic and interesting, and the exhibitions are consistently well curated.

This place was amazing. We didn't get to see it all so much to look at. Had no idea they had so many exhibits. Bats, glass sculptures and so much more.

Avoid the tourist traps in Salem and do yourself a favor by visiting this wonderful museum. We spent a great afternoon there, and were surprised by the quality of the exhibits. The Yin Yu Tang home and the Anila Quayyum Agha’s sculptural chamber of light and shadow were the highlights of our visit.

The museum is beautiful and has a great inventory of interesting items. The best part to me was the exhibit about the Salem witch trials. My 7th great grandfather was a neighbor of John Proctor and George Jacobs and he signed a petition to try to help to get them released. Imagine my surprise when I spotted a chest in the exhibit that belonged him! It absolutely took my breath away! Something I will never forget. I also wanted to mention their great art collection...some real treasures!

I've been to art museums all over the world. I found this one to be laid out strangely and nothing really stood out. There may have been some interesting items in the large room upstairs but you couldn't see anything because of some weird light show. I also felt we were being scrutinized every step we took. This was my least favorite thing we did in Salem.

after they got rid of the western Canadian native art the place was never the same. However the marine trade section is always enjoyable.

Loved this museum! Such a fabulous collection and a great building. Friendly staff. Family friendly but the kids didn't take away from the older patron experience. Space to enjoy taking your time or ability to move through quickly if you are on a time restraint. Plus a great location! I had a great time. Thank you PEM, I will be back!

This is terrible museum who’s exhibit “On This Ground: Being and Belonging in America: is one long blood libel against America. Too much of the accompanying narrative panels are not written by art historians NYT but despicable 1619 and Indian activists. Plus it outright lies about George Washington and the 1779 campaign against the Iroquois. The people who run this museum, assembled the exhibition, and provided the exhibition commentary are loathsome.
Thales my advice, save your money, go to an honest museum.

Apart from feeling that this place is a bit like a maze, I really liked thIs museum. It is housed in a large new building with a three-storey atrium as the central focal point, with all the galleries and exhibition spaces radiating off. Although they give you a guide and there are guides situated throughout the museum I am still not convinced that I saw all of the rooms. You seemed to walk through galleries which lead to staircases and other rooms but I am not sure that saw everything on the floor I was on. Maybe some guides on the floor to take people through the rooms would help. It is made a bit more difficult as some of the galleries were closed as they were being prepared for new exhibitions.

However the rooms and exhibits I did see were very good, and well curated. There was an interactive gallery for children where they were encouraged to touch and feel the experience, and this is a great addition to any museum. I really enjoyed the time I spent there (about two hours) and there was the option to spend longer by visiting the Chinese House and other nearby exhibits. Just to add the gift shop is about the best i have ever seen in a museum, none of the usual tacky tourist things, just some lovely gifts. There is a cafe in the main atrium space which looked very good too.

There is much more to this museum than appears from the outside. Really liked the amazing Chinese House illustrating multi-generational family life from the 1930s. Extensive art galleries. The maritime section highlighted the significant world-wide outreach of Salem in the colonial era.

I have had a membership to the Peabody Essex Museum for a very long time. My first exposure to the PEM was a school trip in the late 1960’s. I absolutely loved the East India Marine Hall which at the time to me it was the centerpiece of the museum. Fast forward to the 1990’s, I am starting a family and get drawn again to the PEM for a kid’s hand on experience about Salem. This little visit got my children hooked on Salem and for years to come we visited the PEM, went to Halloween events and continued to have many spring, summer, fall excursions to PEM and Salem itself. My children are now grown and they are bringing their children to Salem and the PEM. Gem of a museum. The curators of the museum somehow get the best exhibits/shows which is also a major draw. Go to the Peabody Essex Museum. You will not be disappointed.

A beautiful museum, structurally and stylistically, and chock full of amazing exhibits! We saw the climate change exhibit and the animal orchestra and were completely drawn in to both. Such an uplifting place to walk around in, no crowds and often whole rooms to ourselves! And kids - ours loved it as much as we did - get in for free!

We paid full price to get in only to find many galleries inside closed for renovations/exhibit change. We paid extra to get into the house exhibit from China which was a wonderful experience. Maybe while many galleries are closed, the house should be included in main admission fee.

We always make time for this exceptional museum. The current special exhibits focus on the environment and are very thought provoking. The permanent Maritime exhibit is a little hard to find but well worth the effort. Lunch in the atrium is easy and inexpensive. I wish we had allocated even more time.

What a fabulous museum. Many special exhibits! We loved the Chinese house! In Salem it’s right near all the witch stuff and much more interesting.

This museum highlighted the importance of trade with China on the growth of Salem. It began as a repository for artifacts sailors had brought back to Salem from China and Asia, and grow from there. It featured quite a bit of Asian art, as well as an actual house that was moved to Salem from China and reassembled. There is a very nice gift shop, as well as restrooms. You can go in and out all day.

Enjoyed the current show and did a two house tour with a very knowledgeable tour guide. Soon the new wing will be open and I can't wait to see what they have added. Exceptional and unique collection.

If you are looking for a nice way to spend a few hours enjoying all kinds of art, go to this museum on Essex Street in Salem. It was very pleasant inside, the rooms are very roomy, and the art was interesting and a bit different from other museums I have been to.

We took a short trip from NJ to Salem for the express purpose of seeing the current exhibit from the Forbidden City. It was wonderful, full of artifacts and clothing from the various empresses over the course of several centuries. The history of the times and the artifacts was presented in a most accessible way, the presentation was elegant, and I loved it! My husband enjoyed it too, although perhaps not to the degree that I did. We did not know about the Chinese house that the museum brought over and rebuilt on its grounds - that was just an extra great thing to see, complete with acoustiguide to describe the different rooms and their use. A film about the taking down and rebuilding of the house was also most entertaining.

We visited this gem of a museum in Salem, which houses a complete ancient Chinese home that was transported piece by piece and lovingly reconstructed inside the museum. The self guided audio tour is very informative. The docents are very knowledgeable and provided us with a lot of added information. Do watch the video presentations in the two separate rooms to get a better understanding of the culture. It is worth the extra $6 per person because it is a one of a kind structure in the country. The actual museum has the main gallery with some amazing art and furniture. The tickets also include a guided tour of 2 historic homes near the museum. Allow at least 3 hours for this visit if you do the house tours.

I’ve been followed around by cheesy little docents my entire visit because I didn’t want to put my backpack in a locker.

Entire museum is obviously done up by liberal arts majors who couldn’t get real jobs.

Pass on this for real Salem history.

I love museums! The Chinese house is worth the visit if you don’t see any of the other exhibits.
I enjoyed many pieces of artwork through out. However, The Witch Trials which has always been intriguing to me and the exhibit was a hard reality. I highly recommend it but be prepared.

We enjoyed this museum on our Halloween visit to Salem. We were able to purchase tickets ahead of time when other museums were already sold out. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure tickets to the separately ticketed exhibits. Workers were observed cleaning very frequently.

I've got to say, I've been to a lot of art museums in the US and this is one of my favorites. The space itself is huge and interesting without even mentioning the art. The On the Ground exhibit was thoughtfully curated and educational in terms of American heritage. Gorgeous blend of Native American work and other American work. I only wish I'd been able to see a show. Could have spent all day here.

I am blessed to live in Salem, as this museum hits the mark on all levels. There was an Alexander Calder exhibit a few years back. Also, they had Georgia O'Keeffe: Art, Image, Style recently. The museum has permanent collections and holds one of the major collections of Asian art in the United States.

There's a big open area for sitting and/or lunch from the cafe. The gift shop is loaded with all things fine art.

Salem Mass is an amazing small city on the coast, with a great maritime, and literary history. The Peabody Essex Museum is a wonderful museum with innovative, timely, and well designed exhibits. The PEM as it is lovingly referred, has hosted unique and special exhibits you won't find elsewhere, in addition to a great collection that chronicles the history of Salem and the great age of sail. Definitely worth a visit. And great gift shops. Check out their web site for the latest info. And the location is ideal....walking distance to other attractions, shops, amd restaurants. Enjoy!

A woke themed lecture mixed with ugliness. Beautiful art interspersed with modern yuck. The maritime exhibit is good, but skip the rest

This was a last minute visit into the museum to get away from the craziness of Salem in October. A very peaceful , enjoyable museum. Very glad that we decided to tour it!

Interesting exhibition on Salem witches and interesting visit to the Chinese house.
The cafeteria is very pleasant for eating a salad: quick, good and very bright.

i love this museum. basically, it doesn't matter what the exhibit is, I just love the size of the exhibits and the atmosphere. The gift shops are always a must before leaving.

Was the main thing we wanted to do in Salem. Had been told by a local not to miss it. Most intrigued with the Chinese house that was taken from near Shanghei and reassembled here in the actual museum. We got 10 extra tickets to see that at a certain time. And the maritime part of the museum was a hit with my husband too. And I also loved the empresses of China exhibit. Very interesting. Did not have time to see all the rest but spent a wonderful afternoon there!

Not enough time in a day to see everything. The great animal orchestra is an absolute must see. Incredibly informative and unique. The Yin Yu Tang home is a step back in time. The home is spectacularly preserved. The Marie Watt and Cannupa Hanska Luger exhibit was excellent, emotional and powerful images.

This is a terrific museum in the heart of Salem. The collection is varied and quite good, and the exhibitions are invariably well curated and interesting.

This gem of a museum is well worth visiting.

This place is outstanding! It had interesting permanent exhibits and a couple of really fantastic special exhibits: Gu Wenda's "United Nations" and "Spirits" by Tsherin Sherpa. If you can possibly get there, don't miss either. United Nations is waaay more than 100 national flags from all over the world. They are displayed hanging at the top of the long entrance hall. They are mellow and delicate, almost ethereal. It turns out that the material for all the lines and shading in the 'flags' is human hair. Hair from over 500,000 different people all around the world. Spirits is a very dynamic interpretation of traditional Tibetan iconography. Bold colors, strong statements and some humor mixed in.

The rest of the museum is a wonderful blend of the old and new portions of the museum. The collection is quite varied, but there is an understandable emphasis on Asian art of all kinds and all things maritime. With some good Colonial pieces mixed in. The exhibition rooms are so well designed. There are almost no big rectangular galleries with paintings lined up along the walls. Many of the rooms narrow, widen, and then branch off into other objects, nicely set-off from each other and beautifully lighted.

We spent so much time on the special exhibits that we only looked into two of the permanent exhibit rooms. Can't wait to go back again to see more.

Finally, all of the 'human' necessities are well-cared for, from gentle (mostly) stairways, well placed elevators, coat room, storage cubicles, lots of rest rooms, nice coffee shop with a big space for sipping and two superlative gift shops.

This is a fantastic place!

This museum is in the center of Salem, and there is ample parking in the adjacent Witch City Mall, and not expensive. There is a cafeteria that has a good selection of food and drink. The museum is maintained in a superb manner for COVID protection, with proper directions for stairs and access. The galleries are well-presented.

A key current exhibit is on the witch trials of 1692. Be apprised that visits are time-limited, so they can clean the gallery, so if you spend a lot of time on one part of this exhibit, you might short-change yourself at the end. In this exhibit are original materials that have documentation of the trials and artifacts from many of the people involved, both victims and accusers/judges.

The PEM is the oldest museum of its type in the US, and it was founded based on the wealth of the seaport and merchants. It has a superb collection of nautical art, carvings, Chinese trade items, and Salem furniture. Decorative arts are a strong suit for this museum. There is a very nice installation right now on Japanese ceramics.

There is a wonderful garden that is a respite, a place just to sit and contemplate.

There is a very nice fashion gallery on the third level that you should not overlook. The third level also has access to a set of galleries about the history and art of Salem.

The traditional Chinese house is a gem, an exhibit found nowhere else in the West in this manner. It is even more important now, given that in China so many of the traditional villages are being destroyed, as are the hutongs in the cities.

Pay attention to the architecture of this museum. The key entry and courtyard areas are by Moshe Safdie.

This museum is, a la Michelin Guides, worth a "deviation" for those who appreciate art.

Although this is a smaller museum, there was plenty to see beyond the key exhibit ' Empresses of China's Forbidden City'. The primary exhibit had several extremely unique pieces that showed what everyday life for the empresses must have been like. Many pieces of clothing, jewelry, and stunning pieces of art. There were several very large tapestry's and summary's of each of the empresses and things unique tot their time in the forbidden city. We also loved the maritime exhibit that had some fascinating Ship Mastheads that pointed towards the ceiling in one large gallery. We also loved the huge model of the Queen Elizabeth the First. You won't leave disappointed and it's manageable enough to see most galleries in 2-4 hours based on your desired pace. Don't forget to check out the gift store, many one of a kind pieces for your collection.

This fabulous museum has a little something for everyone. The Maritime section was particularly interesting with models of ships as well as art. There is a nature exhibit for the children.

We arrived just an hour before closing time, which left just enough time for us to enjoy this remarkable exhibit, then a few minutes in the excellent gift shop.

Just saw the recent exhibit at the PEM and it was a disappointment. First, everyone who goes there needs to dress warm -- bring a heavy sweatshirt or jacket. I froze while I was there. Second, the show featuring Magic, etc. focused primarily on debunking everything despite one of the presenters stating that she had an extraordinary experience in her family through a psychic. Why didn't they show a more well-rounded approach instead of just focusing on debunking everything. Even some of the staff admitted they would have liked to have invited a medium or psychic who has had remarkable success. Ordinarily I love the PEM. This show just fell short. There were other exhibits that were far better -- the Native American exhibit, the one featuring art associated with Melville's Moby Dick. Those were very interesting.

The Peabody Essex Museum, in the relatively small town of Salem, is without a doubt one of the best private museums anywhere in the Northeast. it has, because of Salem's glory days, one of the finest private collections of Asian art in the United States. It also has an important maritime collection here in the hometown of Nathaniel Bowditch, father of modern navigation, whose 150 year old book is still used by the US Navy. There are great maritime paintings and exceptional ship models. The PEM, as locals call it, also has revolving exhibits, some of which are truly of a world class, Most recently, there was an important Georgia O'Keefe exhibit, and my personal favorite was an exhibit of the paintings of Childe Hassam executed on the Isles of Shoals. As always, parking is an issue here. There is a municipal parking garage across the street, but it can be crowded on weekends. The museum is conveniently located right on the pedestrian mall of Salem, Essex Street, with many cafes, shop,s and restaurants. Not a cheap ticket, but well worth it, especially if you plan on spending a few hours.

Interesting the visit , the Chinese kings seccion was impress with all the close and different objects they had , was a very mothern and well designed museum

Tucked away in downtown Salem, MA — it’s almost overshadowed by all the witch city tackiness. Great collection of China Trade Asian ceramics and artifacts. I’ve been here many times and although its ambitions are grand, it never quite hits the mark. Great place for school groups.

It was nice to go to a museum which was large enough to wander and enjoy for a few hours but didn't require an entire day and leave us with museum fatigue. The facility itself feels bright/airy in some areas, and dark/intimate in others, in just the right amounts for the activities and displays. While not an enormous museum, it does have a very nice range and quality of exhibits.

This museum has loads to offer all age groups. We were a group of 5 people ranging in age 7yrs-96yrs....Everyone loved it. Excellent interactive displays, along with videos as well as written displays. Plenty of open spaces for relaxing between exhibits. Fabulous gift shop....Well worth a visit...Highly recommend :-)!!!

Just back from the better of a day spent at “PEM”. Went mainly for their ‘Made It’ (female influence on fashion) exhibit and stayed to check out some of their regular installations (Made It was very interesting). . Asian pottery & art was great. Two installations involving light/projections were stunning. General traffic flow. Wry well managed in COVID times. A great museum - worth a visit.

PEM is worth a visit if you're in Salem! It's a beautiful and unique museum with some very interesting and educational exhibits. I spent 1-2 hours there, because I was only in Salem for the day, but I could have stayed longer.

Wide ranging museum where it's possible to go down several rabbit holes - some of which may appeal, some may not. You could, for instance, spend 45 minutes looking at ships & seascapes (with some good deep dive audio stories in little set aside audio 'rooms'), or 45 minutes contemplating oppression and/or the unique and burdened experience that apparently no one ever felt before about 1990. Or you could view more traditional art, and some quite good examples. The Salem witch trial exhibit is text centric, but good and a better summary probably than you'll get around town. Rather crowded there. Confusing layout! I'd call this worth visiting but understand it is something of a hybrid - some fine art, a lot of local history and some of the au courant 'messaging' art. Missed the Chinese house, sold out for the day so perhaps book that early if interested - limited group size.

We came just for the Chinese merchant's house and even swung through the Peabody Essex collection just to get our money's worth since we had to pay the museum entrance, plus $6 each for the house. Totally worth it. We visit all sorts of historical homes and this ranks in our top 5. All the senses will be delighted in this home. The audio tour brings in the sounds one might have heard here, and includes interviews with experts and those connected to the home and that part of Chinese history. The architecture is stunning and the stories are, too.

This is a great museum for everyone.
This is a multi cultural museum. Models of wooden ships and figure heads from ships long ago. Paintings from the world over. Art work and sculptures, antique furniture.
A number fascinating items to see.
A great way to keep the kids occupied
on a rainy day.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM). The exhibits are well thought out and presented, with many interactive opportunities. So much engages the visitor and invites one to reflect. I didn't participate in any programming due to my schedule, but there were a lot of interesting and fun options. I also appreciated the fact that you can leave and return during the same day without paying again, as long as you keep the tag they give you. I was able to visit for a couple of hours in the morning, eat lunch elsewhere, and return for another couple of hours. I highly recommend a visit to the PEM!

The architecture alone is one reason to visit this museum. The artifacts and exhibits were magnificent. It is a very in depth look at the complete history of Salem. It has a very old port history and sailor artifacts, American Indian and early Settler pieces are displayed as well. They Do have some extra ticket Salem Witch exhibit as well, but we didn’t buy the extra ticket. We wanted only a historical point of Salem and its proper through the ages. There was a large Pan Asian Art area as well.

This museum has an enormous collection of exhibits. It was mostly very interesting, and fairly affordable as well. The setup due to covid is a bit confusing though, and we got lost several times. Overall I recommend a visit!

This was an ideal rainy day touristy activity. There were exhibits that referenced the local history but there were also special exhibits from far and wide. There are plenty of clean bathrooms inside, a well appointed cafe, gift shops with cute items, options of stairs or elevators for accessibility, and chair canes all around if you needed the support or wanted to sit anywhere in the museum and take it in.

Nearby parking facilities are generally not free. Peabody Museum provides excellent exhibits on Early American life and Salem life.

This is very well maintained museum its clean has a good food court its very well located in Salem. The Japanese artifacts are beautiful and the model ships they have are so detailed its amazing. If you love art and history this is a must see for you.

We have gone to this museum several times, but I never have written a review. The collection is somewhat small and largely focuses on things relevant to the history of this part of Massachusetts. However, a major draw for us are typically the special exhibits. These are usually extremely good. The current one features artifacts from the Forbidden City and focuses on the Empresses of the Qing dynasty. Having been in China, earlier this month, I was particularly intrigued to see the exhibit. I wasn't disappointed. The exhibit was great, very well-explained and laid out. I would recommend checking out the museum and keeping abreast of their special exhibits.

This museum holds special events so be sure to check their website to help you plan your visit. It's also the oldest continuously operation museum in the United States with almost 850,000 works of art of all kinds (from the 1700s to present). They also have a very nice cafe where my husband and I shared a very tasty gourmet turkey sandwich.

It doesn't matter what type of art is your favorite because you are sure to find some of it here. I love contemporary art and was not disappointed in what I found inside. I found the museum to be very well organized making it easy to move from one type of exhibit to the other. I just wish we lived close enough so I could visit it more often when they change exhibits (but we are 720 miles away). This is a must see if you are in the area.

We spent a wonderful day viewing one great exhibition after another. The variety made for a fascinating experience.
Chinese Empresses, so engrossing.
Nature, Art and Environment so novel and provocative.
Wild Nature and Design , made me proud to be human! Maybe we have a chance to survive ourselves after all .
Salem Ma. alone is worth the visit . Parking is easy and reasonable. Great walking around, people watching, bas and restaurants.

The museum is very nice and has great customer service. The Yin Yan Tang house was very interesting and a look into Chinese culture and how recently a family was living in that house. The Shelter to Showpiece tour was very informative. The group had about 20 people from 3ish and up. The 3ish was too young but the tour guide made the best of it. You see three unique houses and how they have evolved over time and how society has always been concerned with impressing others with materialistic things and always wanting to keep up or out do the Jones. The American furniture and home decor section was exceptional with many unique and very high quality examples. Expect to spend at least three hours here.

The exhibits were very interesting and informative! Loved seeing fashions from previous times to present.

We have visited a lot of museums and this one just didn't do it for us. I wish the Chinese House was included in the cost, it was the best part of this museum! We really enjoyed touring the house. There is a lot going on in this museum. There wasn't a good flow and at times I wondered what the theme of this museum was. It cost a lot of money for this museum and I didn't think it was worth it.

Did a day trip by train out of Boston to Salem.
What a disappointment , walking down Essex St., we may just as well have been in the Main Street of a popular theme park, it was so fake. It reeked of tourist trap with many "fake" witch museums and knick knack shops
All designed to part the foolish from their money.
Then down Essex St, near the Salem Visitors Center (well worth a visit), we discovered a true gem , the Peabody Essex Museum..The Chinese exhibit and the Chinese House were magnificent and we spent an amazing amount of time in the American section, this museum and the nearby Visitors center saved what would have been an otherwise wasted daty in our precious 28 in the USA.

By means of a steady flow of new exhibits and special shows, this museum always has something new to offer, even for local residents who visit often. However, my special favorite is the wonderful, permanent model ship collection and the artifacts from Salem's historic seafaring past.
The museum is vast and a rainy afternoon spent here will not disappoint.
Entry is free for residents of Salem.

How anyone could give this museum anything but 5 stars is shocking. The museum is one of the best in the country. They secure amazing artifacts and support the community. Their outpouring of support is one of a kind.

There was quite a bit to see, some of it more interesting than other. We were able to get into the tour of 2 local houses from the 18th and 19th centuries which we really enjoyed.

We really enjoyed walking around this museum. We were especially interested in the Witch Trials special exhibit. It was incredible to read from the accounts of the trials and the evidence. We also really liked the connection to Alexander McQueen and his fashion show that was inspired by the with trials. We also enjoyed the maritime portion of the museum and the armoire sculpture in particular.

We went for a three-hour visit to the Peabody Essex Museum. From the outside, the place looked like a hole in the wall, but inside it opened up to an astonishing, airy and brightly lit atrium with tons of exhibits.

They bill themselves as a museum for American art (a display of witch hunt-related material, colonial furniture and objects d’art, and the like. But, in reality, they had a wide variety of exhibits that emphasized Korean, Japanese, Indian, and some Chinese art, some ancient, some contemporary. These were all wonderful::well-organized, informative, and frequently stunning.

My favorite part was an exhibit of how artists and publishers have attempted to present, represent, adorn, and otherwise market Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” Given how important a good cover design is to how well a book sells, it was fascinating to see how publishers have riffed on the themes of whales, whale hunts, and other facets &:characters of Melville’s novel.

In the end, just as we got to the point of “can’t handle anything more,” we found their excellent gift shop and bought several cute Xmas, Channukah and birthday gifts for friends and family.

This is the perfect museum to get lost in for a few hours. Beautiful collection of American furniture and art, as well as maritime art from around the world. It’s a calm and peaceful space, and i would be here often if local. Really enjoyed the Iris Apfel collection.

Having been to the museum a few times over the past few decades, it was a thrill to be surprised by how much it's changed - it is a new favorite we'll return to. Getting tickets, staff, parking, etc. were all easy peasy. COVID safety was at its best with automatic doors to most rooms, capacity limits posted in galleries, and timed entrances for popular spots. Even without registering for a time at a gallery, you could generally ask and get in. Museum exhibit designers here are seriously the best - presentation, display, and signage were better than most any museum I've been to. Sweet that most things had a sea or far east theme, but it was subtle in many cases. Old artifacts were presented along with more modern flavors for great contrast and interest. Favorites were Where the Questions Live, Anish Kapoor's spectacular piece in the main lobby next to a view of the ancient Chinese home, Stencils (who knew?), the giant room with mastheads and a fascinating light display. I could go on. Spent 5 hours and was exhausted but didn't see everything we wanted to, including the gift shop which was so nice looking.

We really enjoyed the Salem story section and Witch trial room. Building is very open and large but doesn’t seem to have a great deal on display. Museum shop is very nice and staff very friendly

Great variety of permanent and temporary exhibits. They combine the past, present, and future in an engaging manner.

Hans Hofmann exhibition was very well done. The new wing is beautifully designed and houses an interesting array of Asian Art, as well as interactive exhibits for families.

Coming to Massachusetts from fire ravaged California did provide the needed relief we sought from nearly 4 weeks of 90 plus degree temperatures and poor air quality but what was not expected, was our finding a gem of a museum like the Peabody Essex in Salem. While the PEM is not yet in the class of a Met or the Getty, it's filling an important place for American History by memorialuzing Salem''s early days as a key Trading Port and linking the NE United States to key strategic Global Geographies. To this point, the "China House" Installation" took my wife back in time, to her remembering similar structures in Southern China. The PEM went to site and deconstructed this wooden structure and shipped to Salem and put back piece by piece to create a fascinating opportunity for Museum visitors to travel back to China two hundred years ago and to visualize how daily life for an extended family centered around the home.
It was also encouraging to learn the Bd of Directors acknowledged Indigenous People as real Americans and if there was a holiday commemorating the discovery of America, it should be in recognition of these important groups. For visitors from other parts of the country or even folks traveling from abroad, there's lots of engaging narrative history and for people who seek visual stimulation, there are serious collections of artifacts representing some of the world's great cultures and time periods.
Again, if you're spending time in the area and you can work in a good half day, the PEM would be well worth the effort and time.

A fascinating, eclectic collection graces this beautifully lit museum. There's artifacts from the Salem Witch Trials, as well as artifacts from Salem's history as an important port city. There's an exquisite fashion collection, and this time it featured pieces that belonged to the remarkable icon, Iris Afpel. There's also a nice cafe in the atrium!

Beautiful museum! If you haven't seen the latest exhibit at the PEM called the Empresses of China's Forbidden City, GO! Beautifully put together, extremely interesting history.

Enjoyed the maritime exhibition painting from many different periods. Witchcraft exhibit was just okay. Twenty dollars for entry, probably two hours minimum.

The Peabody Essex Museum was a revelation! I expected a much smaller museum and we had only budgeted two and a half hours for our visit, but I actually felt that I could have easily spent another hour here enjoying the various galleries. 
If you're hesitant about indoor activities even as pandemic restrictions ease, this museum with its large rooms and high ceilings might be a good choice for you. It wasn't busy at all when we went on Sunday afternoon and everyone respectfully wore masks. I'd recommend going at any time because they had some fascinating displays, both of temporary exhibitions and those part of the permanent collection. I particularly enjoyed Anila Quayyum Agha's "All the Flowers Are for Me" and we made it just in time to see Alexis Rockman's "Shipwrecks."
We had purchased timed tickets to see Yin Yu Tang, the Qing Dynasty house that was home to the Huang family for 200 years. They offer handheld audio devices, but you can also use your phone and personal headphones. It's a very unique experience to walk through it. Currently, the second story is not open, but we enjoyed walking through the first floor and speaking with the incredibly knowledgeable docent about the building and its history.
In the "Maritime Art" exhibition, I liked that select pieces were set apart for motion-triggered audio and visual in-depth presentations. Though I will say that the only issue I had was with the James Drown calendar stick audio presentation, where you sat through several minutes of story about this carved stick discovered all the way out on Tristan da Cunha and the assumption that poor fellow who carved it died, so it was brought back to his family... but he then turned up alive in Providence! However, the presentation simply says there wasn't an accurate enough explanation for what happened to him to share. ... Seriously? Go ahead and share whatever crazy stories might exist with a caveat that they can't be proved but don't let us down like that!
In any case, clearly it made an impression and that's the most important thing! You'll see many things here that you might expect from a museum in a seaside town, but there's a significant amount of very modern exhibitions and a cosmopolitan feel that marks the Peabody Essex as a very impressive museum. We'll absolutely be back. 

This small art museum was one of the most interesting that we've been to in a long time. It will be on my to-do list for visitors in the future! It had a great mix of both local New England art as well as old and modern art from Asia. Also the Chinese house is worth visiting!

Spend at least an afternoon here, if not a whole day. There are multiple galleries plus historic houses. Buy a membership if you are in Salem more than a day, and save $. The spacious eatery has healthy snacks.

This was one of the nicest museums I have been to, but the highlight for me was definitely the Maritime exhibit. I didn't even think I was interested in Maritime stuff, but the paintings they have, and the amazing figureheads, the history of it all, and the quality of their exhibits were absolutely stunning. One of the highlights of my trip to the east coast. I highly recommend a visit to this fine museum.

Came from the UK to do the witchy stuff in Salem, it was very cold outside so decided to spend a couple of hours here to get warmed up, so glad we did as there was some really interesting things old and modern, highlight for me was the Prayer bead with the Coronation of the Virgin in Heaven and Judgment Day, WOW it blew me away.
overall a great experience and great to see lots of children around the museum.
had a great cup of tea there too

The only downside of a family visit here is that the little ones (ages 1-4) will fatigue after the kids play space, Bats exhibit and garden. This may limit
complete exploration by the adults, but incentivize them to return sans kids. Wonderful museum. Loved the maritime exhibit today. Our two year old tired before we could see the entire place but it was a great family outing.

One of my all-time favorite museums in the world. This museum continues to be a mandatory stop when I’m in the area. They present interesting exhibits in a multi-sensory way that captivates everyone I’ve ever brought with me. Today, there were videos and meditation spots incorporated into individual exhibits. One exhibit even featured 8 versions of the same song shared simultaneously. And, the Yin Yu Tang house was perfectly delightful (again!) despite not being able to venture upstairs due to COVID; this might resolve next week. The staff are all pleasant and informative. The cafe was also closed and hopefully will resume service soon. Love the balance between locally historic and worldly offerings. Highly recommend a visit.

Salem is a pretty area and the museum matched it.

I found there was a lack of content in the museum. The Chinese displays are interesting, but there wasn't much else to see. The optional home tours, which aren't explained well online or at ticket purchase, are probably the highlight in my experience

Outstanding museum in down town Salem. It has a nice cafe where you can get a beverage or a light meal at a reasonable price.

The environment was the focus but included many questions of how humans are negatively impacting the earth

I saw little of this museum aside from the Chinese house but I strongly recommend a visit here. You do have to get timed entry to the Chinese house, and you’re not allowed to stay in it for more than half an hour which I found was cutting it a little fine, but it’s more than worth it. The audio guide is excellent and the experience was very novel

Always interesting exhibits, mostly craft oriented, following the traditions of seafaring and connecting Salem to the rest of the world through imports, e.g. Japanese fashion, Maori tattoos.

This museum is the perfect size. You buzz through a gallery and then pop out again in the beautiful central hall to pick your next little collection. This is a great place to visit with kids, if you are willing to let them set the pace -- lots of nooks and crannies to explore. It is a serious museum, dedicated to preserving treasures from around the world, but the collections tell an entertaining story: "Humans are interesting and we make neat stuff."

What a lovely juxtaposition: the new wing and a tour through the Merchant's home transported from China. What a treasure. And the Salem mariner's connection and world trading three hundred plus years ago? Who knew!

After touring the merchant's home, be sure to experience the movies that provide additional overview, cultural perspective and more on how the home was transported and why. Also, thank you to the attendants for your insight. Interesting that the Chinese family couldn't turn off the propaganda radio but we have a choice to turn off ours. (Full disclosure, I haven't watched the news in over thirty years.)

p.s. Leave enough time to dive deep in the audio of the home if you really want a full immersion in to the cultural experience.

Be well!

Always,
Lipstick Warriors 💋

Beautiful displays in a peaceful atmosphere. The Salem Witch Trials exhibit had a lot of modern displays (pictures of people, and a fashion exhibit), which almost overshadowed the historical display.

We were very impressed by the audio guided tour of the ancient Chinese house. It was very well worth the additional payment. Some galleries were under rearrangement when we visited but we also enjoyed the cafe and shop.

I had a wonderful visit at their much humbler facility in the late Eighties and I have always wanted to get back. Finally, I did this year... and was very disappointed. I found it expensive and difficult to find my way around in... the flow for visitors at the newer construction is confusing and laborious. Even the parking was confusing. Once inside, it was a fair amount of effort just to avoid the promotion and placement of the transplanted Chinese house and get past the dreary snacks area. The art on the ground floor was an odd mix that was trying too hard to be modern and 'inclusive'... some pointless objects took up a lot of space. Poor signage never told us much about what was upstairs or how to get there. Once outside, I hoped there were some other buildings or gardens included in the admission, but no, just several large, dark, older structures that were closed to the public. It was unpleasantly hot when we visited, so it was a long and sweaty trek just to find some reasonable place to get cool drinks.

We did this on a rainy day when touring Salem. It is right in the tourist area of Salem. There is a parking garage right across from it. There are a lot of pieces that reflect the maritime history of the area and the influences Salem had on the rest of the world. We did the museum in half a day. Book your self for the house tours. There are 3 houses in the area that you can tour. One is the house that inspired the Clue game. Keep your pass so you can use the bathrooms later on in the day

This museum is an amazing repository of art - much from the China trade hey days of early Salem history (witches are dealt with elsewhere in the city).
Paintings, glass and china and especially furniture are stunning. The museum also owns and conserves several colonial era homes that (for old house/antique devotees) are well worth visiting.
The museum spaces are stunning architecturally too.
Special exhibitions are high quality indeed - recently Empresses of China and currently, items from the Peter and Carolyn Lynch Collection.

This museum is really cool, totally worth visiting even if you have been before. The Chinese house is awesome!

While we were up in Salem and we were walking around taking in all of the sights and we came upon this place. I really like a Museum as I have been to many of the all over the Country. We had decided to go and we took the tour and they had an impressive amount of artifacts and other valuable items for sure and we really enjoyed the tour of this place for sure.

We had noticed on this review of this place there were some imbeciles that stated this place is very misleading and inadequate and do not listen or pay attention to any of that nonsense because they do not know the first thing about a really good museum and they probably have the intelligence of a head of lettuce.

We really enjoyed visiting the "Peabody Essex Museum" and thank you again...!

Wow what a wonderful surprise the PEM was! The weather was cold and rainy, and this museum was a perfect choice for an afternoon visit. The fashion design and maritime halls were exceptional, highly recommend!

I ended up here because I went to the Ropes Mansion and admittance to that is subsumed in admission at the main facility. They had some interesting things. Felt like a mix of artsy and history. The Yin Yu Tang house was lovely - a 200+ old house moved from China and reassembled in the museum. That piece is a timed ticket, but part of the overall admission. Staff are friendly and will coordinate it for you. Overall, a worth while detour in Salem.

Nice museum, with very friendly and helpful staff. Visited with my wife and our 9 year old son. He enjoyed it. We didn't visit the Chinese house but I believe it was very good from others that did.

The curated main exhibits at PEM are spectacular and they have a large number of kids-focused events and exhibits to engage the tiniest visitors in the art. The museum is small but worth the trip (again and again).

I enjoy coming to the Peabody Essex time and time again because it is a decent sized place with different showcases (I got at least 2 times per year). It is a great place to start your day at Salem! Park in the garage for the day, go straight to the museum and head off to lunch right after. I like the food here but its more fun to eat at other places!

My review is based on my tastes, please consider that. We visited on Memorial Day and because I am a veteran we were allowed free access. We arrived after noon and access to the Yin Yu Tang House was inaccessible because they only allow so many visitors per day. The second issue I have is Native American Artists exhibits are identified with “name once known” so as not to dehumanize them. Conversely Artistic exhibits by early Americans from Boston were tagged Boston Artist. Inconsistent. The earth exhibit is over the top conservationism done by someone who clearly never lived a rural life. In fairness there are many interesting exhibits of you don’t mind being enduring the preaching.

Excellent museum with lots to see.
Okay employees dressed as butterflies was a bit hokey. Lots of wings and I was there in a free entrance day. The maritime area and American furniture, etc are really excellent. You can easily spend a few hours here.

We went during the Empresses of China exhibit and it was exquisite. We learned so much about how women, despite the emperor being seen as the head of China, truly were the quiet power that masterfully controlled the empire and even the next emperor. Each Empress was exhibited as we learned about their personal stories and the overall culture expectations and roles they played. I particularly loved the beautiful clothing, jewels and artifacts we were able to see. This was a must see!

The rest of the museum was a surprisingly let down. There was a mishmash of gorgeous historical art, contemporary art, and other objects that I feel just shouldn’t be in a museum with a good reputation. Strangely enough they have a massive exhibit hall that only holds a handful of nautical figureheads, leaving most of the room empty and unused.

Also, much to my dismay and yes I have heard the rumors but was hoping differently, the museum has absolutely no artifacts from the Salem Witch trials on exhibit nor are they accessible. They do, however, house them and seem to pretend they don’t exist. Locals informed me that the Peabody Essex Museum does not want to be associated with the dark events of the past. I feel strongly, however, that museums are supposed to be a reminder of the past, and this museum is doing us a strong disservice by not allowing us to experience the documents and artifacts their town is known for.

First time at the PEM and so pleased. Beautiful place to relax and enjoy some terrific exhibits. The Chinese House is really special - a must. Thompson's photographs are outstanding and the remainder is just wonderful. Relax and have lunch in the atrium.

Museum is handicapped accessible, centrally located with street parking that is limited. We used our Ft Worth Modern Museum pass to get in which was super nice. Museum is located on three floors, clothing, paintings, hair art and do much more. The gift shops are very nice.

Very impressed
I had not been there in 10 years and the museum has expanded and revamped extensively. I loved the American collection. It was interesting and well organized without being overwhelming. The maritime exhibit was also worthwhile. The fashion exhibit was fun. I was not a fan of the contemporary art from a India, but the Japanese artifacts were beautiful. I would go again and visit some of the houses next time.

We enjoyed this quite a bit and used our admission as an opportunity to take the Salem Witch Trials audio tour. The most interesting stop on the tour was a walking stick belonging to one of the accused from the 1600s!

This was absolutely my favorite thing in Salem
So much to see and do - they have a 200 year old Chinese house you can tour also (make sure to get your timed ticket -- no extra charge, they just limit the amount of people allowed in at one time)
Staff were very friendly, everything clean.
We ate at the cafe, PLENTY of options for everyone (vegetarian options were delicious).

Went because it was a part of the Go Boston Card. I am not a fan of art museums. Most of the museum was roped off for a special production, which was not included for us.

This was my least favorite thing that we did while in Salem. We thought it would be a nice way to spend a rainy morning. There is not much to look at for the price of admission.

We found this museum bland and mediocre. There was little to lift the spirits and excite. Navigating the space was annoying. The galleries were poorly organized with empty areas that seemed abandoned. In fairness, we did not see the Chinese house which I note received favourable comments. Little in the collection stood out. Visit MassMoca instead. It's a fabulous and exciting place if you are interested in contemporary art. But don't get me wrong, we love art museums with collections that go back hundreds, if not thousands of years (e.g. the Cycladic Art Museum in Athens).

The maritine section is closd currenly but they offer a 25 percent discount while some galleries are closed. Regardless vert worthwhile. They currently have a collection of Peter Lynch's..of Fidelity fame that includes wonderful American paintinsls. Fro around 1810 to 30s and wonderful American made furniture. Collection from his houses. Also visit a 200 year old Chinese hour that was moved here completely.

I was greatly looking forward to the Peabody Essex Museum but sadly I was disappointed with some of the exhibits. Staff were welcoming. The Chinese House was excellent, well presented and informative. Some of the other rooms were interesting but the main exhibit, ‘A Passion for American Art’ I found quite bland. I love American art but this exhibit just didn’t grab me so I wish I’d spent less time here and more seeing the sights of Salem.

After visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the previous day and the Harvard Art museums the following day, this was my least favourite and expensive as some of the rooms were closed.

Loved this museum. The location is great, right across from the Salem Witch Trials memorial. The building is beautiful and architecturally interesting. We were not expecting Salem to have a museum with an art collection this broad and interesting.

A must-see is a country home relocated from China, piece by piece. Make sure you ask for the accompanying audio tour -- no charge -- or bring headphones and use your phone. We also enjoyed the maritime art and displays, and the Draw Me Ishmael exhibition. We had the pleasure of visiting right after the Moby Dick reading marathon at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (also a fabulous museum).

We live in Boston and have been to the PEM many times by car and by ferry boat from Boston harbor in the summer. It is a fabulous destination however their new expansion area has taken out the wonderfully intimate restaurant that had outdoor patio seating in the summer months.

Sadly, the only food option now is a plain and non-cozy cafe in the stark entry atrium that has limited plastic tables and chairs (we had to wipe ours off) , pre-packaged sandwiches, salads in plastic containers, and other quite limited selections. The Amtrak trains might have a better food choice. If you want to have Sugar Pops or Captain Crunch cereal for lunch, though, you’ll be quite happy because that’s one of the selections! Seriously.

Since we are retired we like to go to museums and make it a real destination trip so we can enjoy the day. A big part of that includes a good meal in a nice spot. We will probably still go to the PEM for major exhibits (Hans Hoffmann was great) but we will most likely go elsewhere in Salem for lunch. Sorry to see their sit down restaurant get chucked out the window!!

The museum, though, is well worth a visit and they do have a gift shop that reflects the high quality standards of the museum. I wish they’d solve the food option.

This is a world class museum in downtown Salem. The recently expanded building is large and beautiful. The permanent collection is eclectic and interesting, and the exhibitions are generally terrific. The curatorial staff at the PEM is absolutely first rate. The current Jacob Lawrence show is the most recent example of a great exhibition at the PEM.

I probably should have done my homework on this museum before going but it was not what I was expecting. Very cool and interesting artifacts, my favorite was the maritime exhibit. I was expecting more about history of Salem but the other art was cool too

Much of the museum was as we remember it, though there were some pleasant surprises, some that we'd forgotten, some that were new.
But, the best was that we turned up on the day before the official opening of the new extension, and were invited into the select pre - opening party.
That new extension is marvellous, a truly special series of exhibitons and displays.
A great addition to the main museum.

I visit the PEM several times a year. The museum has several galleries that are filled with traveling exhibitions that change often as well as permanent exhibits drawn from the museum's extensive collection. there is always something interesting to see. They also have a very nice cafe if the glass roofed atrium and great museum store. it's a great place to spend a few hours or a whole day!

Hidden in plain sight, the PEM (as we locals call it) is a world-class museum with interesting permanent collection mostly related to Salem's maritime heritage, and the best-curated special exhibits I have ever seen. Thought-provoking, clever, and often brilliant viewpoints highlight most of their curation. Getting to know Georgia O'Keefe not only thru her paintings, but through her self-designed & sewn wardrobe; seeing history through footwear, accidental art made by small birds...each new exhibit is an enjoyable trip you'll want to take!

This is a truly world class museum in the heart of Salem. We are members, and typically visit 6 or 7 times per year. Our most recent visit was to see the new wing of the museum. It is impressive; the exhibits are almost invariably well curated.

Thank you, benefactors! This place is a calm cultural and historic oasis in the midst of hyper-touristy Salem. Wonderful and accessible arts and exhibits, with a great focus on Asia. The Yin Yu Tang house alone is worth it; don't scrimp by passing on this rarity.

An excellent museum with a fine and varied permanent collection. Where they really shine is in their special exhibits - they are always ingeniously designed, interactive for adults & children, dynamically displayed items. It is conveniently located in the heart of Salem with a range of surrounding walkable sites for food. A must see for the crowd who want to visit Salem for more than the 17th c.witch trials!

The American Struggle is a series begun by Lawrence that was to cover the history of the United States from its beginning to the 1950's ( I believe). Though he was unable to continue the series, it is an incredible both in it's scope and portrayal of subjects. Though PEM wasn't able to assemble all of the series, two paintings are missing, it is stunning in Lawrence's work. There was a class of high school students viewing it when my friend and I were there and it was interesting to hear younger people's input. Not to be missed if possible.

People go to Salem for a lot of reasons, including the whole witch thing, the House of Seven Gables, the sea. We go for the Peabody Essex Museum. It’s a gem. It is approachable in size, has a superb group of regular exhibits of maritime and Asian artifacts but also the incredible Chinese House. The special exhibits are creative, wondrously diverse, beautifully curated. It’s an hour away for us, but we have been members for years.

The gift shop is also really good, and the restrooms are happily clean. The toilets are super low, however, so if you have bad knees, be aware!

We greatly enjoyed the American sections and the Art and Nature section of the museum. However four major sections of the museum are closed awaiting the arrival of new exhibits. It is not a large museum and to have so many sections closed was disappointing. Probably should have paid the extra to see the Yin Yu Tang house.

The Peabody Essex should be a must travel to for everyone. The remarkable preservation of our past is so treasured here.

Time spent maybe two hours at the museum, busy looking at all the different exhibitions they had. Could have spent more time, but we only had a day to see everything the city has to offer. The staff is friendly and very helpful, so don't be afraid to ask for directions or recommendations. There is a cafeteria area if you want to eat or get something to drink. Restroom locations are well marked and easy to find along with other locations in the museum, and if you need a map, they have them at the front desk when you buy your tickets. From what I saw, they had plenty of attractions to keep kids busy too. If you have a few good to spend or just want to get out of inclement weather, stop in and see what they have going on

This is an extraordinary exhibit, open through May 5. It is not to be missed. It is riveting, compelling and thought provoking.

Enjoyed the Chinese house. Not that much into art to enjoy the rest of the museum. ONe area was clearly for kids but not really identified as such. Ladies at the special "slay" exhibit were very odd and wouldn't even let us take a look at what was going on.

This museum was great. Wonderful Native American exhibit, beautiful pieces. House from China was amazing - moved brick by brick to USA. Staff was very helpful and informative. Reasonably priced. Easy to get to.

History comes alive with the fun interactive artwork for the kids. The adults can enjoy the artwork and many houses associated with the Museum. The gift shop is a little bit pricey and so is there café. They have a home from China and famous art work. Plus a great idea if you want to find out about Salem's Histoical Marittime life of the colonist which settled Salem.

I was a little unsure about paying $20 for entry, but it was totally worthwhile. The museum is huge inside with a variety of exhibits. It's a bit if a chaotic maze, and I'm not even sure I saw everything. The fashion exhibit upstairs is easy to miss and very cool, and I stumbled upon a room of Indian paintings that was a real highlight for me. I was really impressed with my whole experience and will definitely return. Salem is fun but a bit cheesy, so this museum was a welcome alternative activity!

We're not big for museums but this was very entertaining and well presented. This would particularly be true if someone had an interest in either Indian, Japanese or Chinese culture. We love the In American Waters and Carlos Garaicoa exhibits!

What a delight! The museum is architecturally stunning, melding Salem history with a very modern, open, and light filled addition. The collections are very varied and I could have spent all day there. Highlights for our group of 6:
1. Our guide Henry. His knowledge and enthusiasm made every subject fascinating. Every museum should have such a dedicated art lover who always seemed so pleased to get to show us around. His appreciation of the museum and its art was infectious.
2. The variety of the art- from different ages, regions, and cultures. A few of the paintings (Gilbert Stuart, Chide Hassam) stood out. The Marine Hall with its light show was magical. Molding a ball out of clay and adding it to an art project was a thoughtful exercise in meditation.
3. The Chinese House, a really big draw for a museum in US, was a disappointment. No place to sit while you listen to not very interesting audio tapes. Felt claustrophobic and just not that interesting to me. Hard standing that long. Some of my group liked it more and also liked a film that accompanied the exhibit.
4. The gift shop has very avandt gard fashion choices- from scarves and clothes to a lot of jewelry. We made several purchases.
5. Tip: two coat racks are provided free at the entrance. They also have a coat check but the guy working there took all six of our wet coats and wadded them together in a cubby hole! We asked for them back and hung them properly on the coat racks. Just hang your own coats.

So in the midst of all the Salem Witchcraft hokem, take time to enjoy this very sophisticated first class art museum.

This is one of the oldest American museums founded in 1799! It got expanded and renovated recently in 2019. It has tons of really neat exhibits on North American art, Asian art, fashion, and Salem history. They even have a very antique and unique Chinese house inside which requires special tickets. Highly recommend this if in Salem.

Finally the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 exhibit! I was so very excited to actually see the paperwork from the Trials, the warrants, etc. It is history, not a wonderful history to have, but history none the less. PEM did a wonderful exhibit. The museum itself is lovely. They were also excellent with Covid 19 precautions. Very impressive. I hope to be able to visit again.

I never tire of this museum or especially bringing friends who haven't been here. The exhibits are always put together wonderfully and are worth the trip from Western Mass that we make to do it. The atrium cafe is a wonderful place for a coffee or lunch. Can't wait for our next visit.

If you need a break from all the witchy stuff, then this is a nice museum to see. There’s all kinds of art here. We particularly liked the photograph and The American Struggle exhibits. It’s also in the heart of town so you’re not going out of your way.

I spent 2 and a half hours here. The exhibits were gorgeous. I was so impressed with this museum. The staff were fun too. I was traveling alone and they were quick to offer conversation and helpful information. Thank you for an enjoyable visit.

Today we took a day trip from Boston by train to visit the town of Salem. Unfortunately, most of the town was closed but the Peabody Museum right in the heart of the East India pedestrian mall was open. Founded in 1799 by a group of Salem-based captains, who were required by their society's charter to collect "natural and artificial curiosities" from beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn? The East India Society now holds more than 840,000 works of historical and cultural art covering maritime, American, Asian, Oceanic and African art, and two large libraries with over 400,000 books and manuscripts.
Today’s building is a very open and airy facility, and the spacious central atrium has movable solar shades. During our visit there was an exhibition of Georgia O keeffe's work, but the Museum has many more famous American artist work, like George Washington, Clifford Warren Ashley, Frederic Remington and John Singleton just to name a few. Also check out the varies ships figureheads, with their own interesting history.
The museum shop has a very interesting gifts and lots of unusual articles to buy, the indoor cafeteria is the perfect place to get a quick bit to eat, and the rest rooms are spotless.

TIP: Get the head phones and listen to the narration it is very good and explains a lot.

As this is closed on Mondays, we returned on Wednesday specifically to visit. The layout is a bit unusual. Rather than display exhibits chronologically, the staff frequently places items with a common-theme together regardless of time-frame.

The best exhibit by far is the Yin Yu Tan house, moved from a Chinese village. While it costs extra, once inside, you can explore at your own pace. The audio headsets are excellent. Docents are onsite should you have further questions.

We also enjoyed seeing three nearby historic homes: the John Ward House (ca. 1684, one of the finest surviving 17th-century buildings in New England), the Crowninshield-Bentley House (Georgian style), and the Gardner–Pingree House (Federalist architecture). As tickets are limited, it is best to book when you first arrive.

Came up to Salem from NYC for this exhibit, been trying to come up to see this since 2003 and left NOT disappointed. Was not sure what to expect but did see what an actual house was like back in 1800s. It is truly amazing, you will not even be upset with the additional charge of $6 per person for this exhibit as it is well worth it, very authentic. Note to all, you will have to check your backpacks before entering the exhibit, it is free. Since the exhibit is outdoor, go on a clear day. If you went and enjoyed it, leave me a helpful thumbs up....😊

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is a fascinating tribute to local Salem port history with an eclectic tip of the hat to Chinese trade culture and politics. There are some animals and fauna in a small space, and a tall glass of the West Indies Trade company influences showcased.
We enjoyed a knowledgeable local docent on our tour, and learned a lot!! Great local activity!

This delightful museum has many exhibits. Many of the exhibits focus on New England. I went on a weekday morning when the museum was not very crowded. The building is open and airy and they are planning expand in the near future. My husband was a veteran and he received free admission!

Well, the whole witch thing in Salem is entirely out of control these days. But this museum was a pleasant surprise. There are two separate sections -- the old section and the new section. I enjoyed the old section, with lots of furniture from the days when Salem was a wealthy port, before it was supplanted by Boston and by New York. Just walking around on those lovely old floors and up and down that beautiful staircase was a nice experience. Plus, kids aren't interested in that stuff. So it was quiet. The new section is a truly inviting space. There are several different exhibits that change from time to time. The cafeteria is pleasant and has food that you would actually like to eat for lunch. And there's a nice activity room for kids that, pleasantly, had a few adults there too. The glass exhibit was stunning, although I'm a bit tired these days of Chihuly. Well worth the few hours. And yes, dear, they do have stuff about the witch hysteria. Not the current hysteria, but the hysteria from the 1600s that was such a sad example of how low judges can sink. What a sad story.

Not at all worth the price you post to get in. They advertise Salem witch trials but it didn't have any history in the entire museum. Very disappointed. Also do not bring backpacks with you my small tiny backpack wasn't allowed. Women had purses larger than my backpack. Terrible experience from staff to exhibitions. Don't waste your time or money.

Most of the town felt very fake and touristy. The museum, however, was really good. The architecture is nice and there are lots of different interesting sections. I particularly liked the Chinese and maritime sections. The displays are high quality and surprisingly good for this small town.

This museum is a real surprise, since it is a smaller museum in a small Boston suburban town. I visited to see the Chinese Empresses exhibit, which was top-notch. The Palace Museum in China has loaned the Peabody a big group of amazing pieces for the exhibit -- really excellent stuff. The visit to the Chinese house is definitely worth the extra $6 and I found it enchanting -- it's a real, old Chinese house, just awesome.

I always love the PEM. the Pequod II exhibit was worth the price of admission by itself!
We visit to see the Maritime history exhibits, but they always have something to surprise.

There was nothing posted on the website that you needed a negative COVID-19 test result to enter. My wife and I were visiting from Pennsylvania and were denied entry to the museum. I was really looking forward to seeing the Salem Witch Trials exhibit. The woman “guarding” the front door was really rude.

This is an exceptional and truly eclectic museum in the heart of Salem’s downtown. The shows are invariably interesting and well curated, and the permanent collection is quite good and varied.

World class Musium in the center of everything Salem has to offer. Beautiful building for exhibits. Layout is wonderful. Nice gift shop. Near train station. Near restaurants and shops.

Having just come from the MFA in Boston and the Chicago Art Institute, we were very pleasantly surprised by the quality and size of this outstanding museum. We were expecting a small collection, but it was a good size with some very good pieces. The real gem and attraction is the Chinese house, which was just breathtaking. Even if you can go in and see only that, pay the price because it is so worth it to have this rare opportunity to walk through a real Chinese traditional house, its courtyard and many rooms. You have a audio you can listen to so you can hear about the history and all the interesting details about the house. This is a MUST!

I heard they had the best Nautical/Seafairing exhibit on the East Coast and travelled over 3000mi to see it, among other sights in the area. Imagine my dissapointment when they said it was closed because it was being "Re-imagined." No doubt it will probably be a shadow of it's former self. The remainder of the museum was ok but I wasn't really interested in the social ideas they were trying to push. They should just be a museum and showcase history and famous works of art; that is what we came to see... not to be preached to.

You need to be sure you spend a lot of time. So much to see and do. They have wonderful exhibits and things are easy to read. Parking is next to the Museum at a parking garage. Bathrooms were clean and there was so munchies and drinks you can buy and sit and relax. Will need to go back again.

Surprisingly large and great use of space inside. Very much enjoyed our visit. Great way to spend a few hours, beautiful exhibits and tons of history.

Fantastic, thoughtful, colorful museum with a wide variety of exhibits!

There was a really well done exhibit on the Salem Witch Trials, which had original documents and original objects owned by people involved in the trials.

A favorite of mine was Each/Other by Watt and Cannupa, a creative and colorful mixed media collection. There are definitely indigenous undertones.

The Salem stories section of the museum was beautiful and a lot of fun! It’s set up in an A to Z format (A is for always indigenous to Z for zoology). There are so many intriguing Mo cam stories and artifacts, photographs, and posters. My favorite was the East India Maritime Society cabinet. And I had no idea Parker Brothers games had a relationship to Salem.

There are several galleries for Asian art: south Asian, Chinese, and Japanese. There is also Yin Yu Tang house, a 200 year old Chinese house broken down and brought to America and rebuilt (separate free ticket).

There’s American art. An impressive maritime art section. A very classy children’s section, and more.

I really wish I could have spent more time here and will try to return.

Also, there is a parking garage right next to it. I parked for a few hours and it was only five dollars. Near downtown, the witch board museum, the witch trials memorial, and more.

Peabody Essex Museum was free for us as NARM members. We enjoyed its beautiful full of light modern building and very interesting exhibits related to the infamous “Witches of Salem Trial”, one of the saddest parts of the pilgrims’ history in our country. One more poignant reminder of how evil things could become when it comes to religious zealots. We also liked almost everything on the third floor, where plenty of beautiful Asians objects of art are displayed. Salem was a town of seafarers and many of these objects have been brought to Massachusetts on their ships. On the second floor I was very impressed by some gorgeous glass art objects, including Dale Chihuly’s vase. Then we had a nice lunch at the museum cafe (two cups of clam chowder, tuna sandwich for my husband and a mini veggie quiche for me). Lovely and well curated museum.

Visited as part of a visit to family whilst in the USA. This is an impressive museum with a vast collection of art as well as information about the Salem witch trials. Well presented and in fact needs a full day to appreciate the exhibits. We had a sandwich in the atrium area of the cafe. Very helpful staff with the order. Very clean

Didn't get to see too much because was here to conduct a film interview, but the parts I did see were great. The exhibit they had on the Salem Witch Trials was super informative and well put together. The building's architecture was cool. The staff were super lovely too.

While the interior design of this museum leaves a lot to be desired, there are plenty of wonderful things to see and learn about at this museum.

Outstanding staff, great exhibit. Also visited the Chinese House. It was quite interesting and a wonderful story of acquisition and movement from China.

We recently returned to the Peabody Essex Museum to see their new exhibit "In American Waters." What a sheer delight - both to return to the PEM and to see this great show. I personally preferred the traditional ocean art to the more contemporary art, but it was interesting to see both. For us, the large paintings of ocean water were especially beautiful.

This museum is one of my favorites. I enjoyed all the art that they had installed. The gift shop has very nice stuff as well. I would definitely go back next time I am in Salem!

The Peabody museum in Salem is one of the best museums we have ever been to in America. Its not cheap at $20 each but its wroth it. There is so much to see you need at least 4 hours to it justice. Some os the displays are truly stunning. Parking can be a mare so try and arrive early and not at weekends.

book this in advance, its very well appointed and great eye appeal, loved the authenticity of the yin yu tang chinese house.

This was my second visit to the museum, so I was a little worried about 'seen it all before syndrome', but I was not disappointed. There were temporary exhibits that were well displayed and interesting, and the more permanent areas had supporting materials (videos, books) so you could dive deeper into things that perhaps you had overlooked on another visit. I don't think this would be a great museum for children or families, but for the older travellers, its great.

Came for Chinese House and it was worth the trip from Boston. Liked the story behind how the house was moved here. And the house was preserved and its authenticity. Also had a chance to visit the other old house outside the museum. While some of the exhibits cannot compared to other major museums, they were quite nicely done, such as Fashion show on the 3rd floor, the eight exhibits Power show. Wished I had more time to visit other old houses.

An amazing museum that has rotating special exhibits all the time. I feel like every time we go to Salem, there's a new exhibit. Emission to the Peabody Essex museum also gets into other places including the ropes Mansion for a tour.

This is an eclectic and extremely well curated museum in the heart of Salem. The permanent collection is varied, and includes Chinese and other Asian and South Asian art. The exhibitions are ge really quite interesting, and in some instances are truly spectacular.

The collections here are great!! Don't miss the amazing 200+ year old Chinese House - the architecture is fascinating and there is so much that can be learned about Chinese culture by touring the house.

Stopped in Salem early one weekday morning just to photograph this museum building designed by Moshe Safdie whose buildings are amazing! Love the lines and silhouettes he creates. We walked around the entire block to see it from all sides...so interesting!! We were still there when they opened so I was able to go inside for a couple minutes to photograph the lobby atrium. Awesome!! If we make a return visit to the area, we'll be sure to visit the museum itself!!

They brought a 5th generation home from China and rebuilt it here!
The Empresses exhibit is the first time items have been out of China's Forbidden City - and they are here! Could Salem Ma be counted along with such cities as Tokyo and London for such a fabulous museum. Don't miss this gem.

Best museum i'v been to in a long time this place has it all! great for families to explore our awesome history

I really enjoyed the exhibits especially the exhibit Yin-Yu-Tang. A beautiful Chinese house with much tradition and old precious artifacts. They change the exhibits- frequently but their art is also amazing. I even thought their hift shop was really awesome-highly recommend it.

we actually drove from NY to see the exhibit on "Empresses in the Forbidden City" before it closes on Feb 10. and we ended spending most of the day there between the permanent collections and the others. there is a pleasant eating area with decent sandwiches, if one gets hungry and want to rest

Excellent museum with progressive exhibits. Easily accessible with great facilities. Very clean . A little pricey but worth it.

We bought our 10 AM timed tickets online($18 ea senior), donned our face masks and picked up a floor plan to optimize our visit. This new 2003 building, combining 2 museums that date back to 1800, has 6 acres of floor space containing a large entry hall with gift shops, lots of exhibition halls and curvilinear hallways. I asked a docent for directions to the first floor's permanent collection, Maritime Art. After this, a docent pointed us to an elevator to the 3rd floor where we then walked down through the often unconnected exhibit halls. The quality of the historic collection, both from returning 19th sailing sea captains and subsequent museum purchases, is very high quality with excellent notations and some interesting stories, so the progression was slow. After 3 hours we were exhausted but felt we had done a good job. Some of our favorites were; 1279 Japanese Jizu Bosatsu, 1750 "Two-headed equestrian figurehead."(one of the oldest in the world and the only double-headed form), Salem native Nathaniel Bowditch published "The New American Practical Navigator" in 1802 and is still carried on U.S. Naval vessels, 1863 Maritime Journal of the "Tarquin", 1790 Indonesian Two-stem smoking pipe, 1899 "Tea Production in China", 1790 "Contemplation by the Sea", 1837 Chinese Sewing Table, 1725 Chinese screen made for Sir John Eccleston, 1656 1300 pound Chinese bell(inscribed with 5000 characters from the Heart and Diamond Sutras), 2015 "All the Flowers Are for Me," by Anita Quayyum Agha.
This is a great museum that brought the world to Salem.

Easy parking in the public garage for a small fee. Got there at 10 am, when it opened, on a Saturday. A line to get in, but not a long wait. Free coat check so we could enjoy the day without lugging heavy winter coats. Lockers also available for back packs. We saw the Empresses of China exhibit the day before the exhibit closed. Beautiful displays and easy walking through the exhibit. In the past we viewed toured the Chinese house and the other 3 outer buildings. Best to save those for warmer weather but we’ll worth it. We had a nice lunch in their cafe too. Prices are not too bad for a museum. We went through the entire museum in 4 hours. Some areas were closed due to exhibit changes so that was fine. Our brains were on overload after 4 hours. There was a very long line to get in at 2 pm. Make the most of it and get there early.

The museums displays are heavily politicized; 100% “woke” that is. Their approach creates a sour, bitter and pouting image of many of the artists presented while showing the curators to be biased and smug. The history of humanity is not pretty, we know that. Dwelling on the past only hinders valid efforts to make the future better for everyone. It is and always has been a losing proposition. The curators have never realized this reality. Steer clear of this museum is my suggestion.

I had time to spare so why not visit the museum. I came within an hour of closure so I was able to get a discounted rate, but I also had to rush the exhibits a little bit.

There was such a good variety of art. There is a Japanese exhibit, Chinese and Indian exhibits. I've never seen Indian art in a museum and I liked that. Along with other cultures there was the 'Black Atlantic' exhibit which was interesting as well, because again it's not something I've seen in a museum to that extent. So I really appreciated that. There was also an open room which reminded me museums in Paris.

Visiting PEM museum is something you'll regret. If I wasn't pressed on time I'd easily spend another 45 minutes exploring.

Well it was as the title describes...fine... Maybe it was because we were exhausted at this point of our trip but we were underwhelmed. I'm not saying that this place does not have an extensive collection of many different civilizations because it certainly does, and it does focus on different eras as well, but we just couldn't get excited about being here. I did enjoy that there was a fair amount of art (specifically furniture) from Salem and throughout New England which gave us the the local flavor we enjoy when we visit museums... If you are all "witch'd out" this works as a good palette cleanser.

Do not purchase timed entrance thinking you can enter the museum and exhibits. You will be waiting in endless lines. You will not get entry to important Salem exhibits. Worst museum experience. Rip off.

The museum lived up to the hype for sure! I had grand plans of buzzing through in 1.5 hours and wound up giving 3 delightful hours of thought provoking appreciation for so much of the local history that bridged the gap to so many corners of the earth. The collections bring you around the world. Give yourself enough time to enjoy it.

Feat museum!!!!! Especially enjoyed the American artists. Go early as it has lots to offer!!! Be sure and check out the other sites/homes associated with the museum-Gardner/Pingree house; John ward house etc.

Very nice museum with thoughtful exhibits that are well put together. We really enjoyed the Witch Trials Restoring Justice exhibit. It was nice to be able to have a quiet moment of respect and reflection for a tragic event in the midst of peak tourism time where everything was a bit more fun and silly.

This is an incredible museum. If you're here to learn about Salem, The Salem Witch Trials 1692 and Salem Stories exhibits should be your first stop, but there's so much more to explore here. We loved If I With You Would Go, which is unfortunately closed now. Other favorites included the Fashion & Design gallery, Anila Quayyum Agha: All the Flowers Are for Me, and Bethany Collins, America: A Hymnal. Draw Me Ishmael: The Book Arts of Moby Dick is a great temporary exhibit that will be up for a few more months. Our last stop on the day we visited was to tour Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home. You get an audioguide as you go through it that's narrated by Amy Tan! I would love to come back to this museum anytime.

We came to Salem to learn about the witch trials. This was the first time in ages that this museum had an exhibit with relics from those days. We were excited to see it until we found out that it was separate from the rest of the museum and we needed a separate ticket and the only time it was open was 6 hrs later, during our other tour. So we never got to go to the exhibit.

People don’t come to Salem to see a random hodgepodge of Asian Art that we weren’t too keen on seeing. Put that stuff in Boston and perhaps people will be more amenable to it. But in Salem, they come for New England history and witch trial history. We paid for expensive tickets and saw none of it. We had family in town from Hong Kong who were excited to see the witch trials exhibit and they literally had to pay to see art from their own country....pieces they keep in their own homes. That’s like Americans spending money to go overseas and learn different culture and history...just to be taken to a museum that’s themed “current American pop culture ” Not successful...

Lovely museum offering a calm and interesting break from Salem’s touristy madness. I visited on a Sunday afternoon and spent 2.5 hours visiting mainly special exhibitions. I like that the museum has lots of smaller collections and exhibitions that aren’t overwhelming to walk through. The downstairs main one is large but I found it well curated and thoughtful. It was about belonging in America and juxtaposed colonial art and viewpoints with native / indigenous ones. Great insight into local and US wide history and art. I also loved the small Moby Dick book design and illustrations through the ages exhibition.

There were lots of family friendly exhibitions and activities too. Cafe is ok, I only bought a coffee that was a great filter one.

Good value of you make sure to spend time there. They have a good locker and cloakroom system that’s free too.

Looks like they are expanding and can't wait to see what they have to offer. Today we visited and enjoyed the various exhibits. They always have something special to be viewed.

We are truly blessed to have a gem like this on the North Shore. A world class museum, I have taken so many visiting friends and family here. There are always several great exhibitions as well as an astounding permanent collection. The China house is a must-see.

The art and environment exhibit and the technology and nature exhibits were excellent. This museum is manageable size and well laid out with a lovely cafe in the atrium that has good food. Lot to like here!

Witchcraft seems to be the main tourist currency in Salem so we were very surprised to find such a 1st rate museum in this town! It's got a bit of everything, including the main highlight, the Qing era Yin Yu Tang house which has been reassembled bit by bit and is worth a detour on its own (note you need to prebook to get in as numbers are restricted). We enjoyed finding native American art which is missing from many of the main museums in Boston & naturally we couldn't leave without taking in the exhibits which cover the 1692 witch trials! Would definitely return here next time we're in the area

I spent quite a few hours here enjoying the exhibitions. Lovely well presented museum. I enjoyed the exhibition about Chinese Empresses the best. The cafe was great too.

Visited the museum hoping to see the maritime exhibits, but was disappointed to find the hall closed for renovation. I feel this should have been stated on the website, as we probably would not have visited at this time. The price of admission is high for the number of exhibits actually opened. The Chinese house was probably the best part of the museum, however, there was an additional charge to enter. I don't recall paying to view the house several years ago.

Beautiful space and exhibits. I would not do the house from China again - small and the 2nd floor was closed - but the rest of the museum is terrific.

If you are into art, this is your place. It's not a big museum but it's laid out well. You can take a guided tour or self guided. There is also a lot of furniture on display from previous eras.

This museum is great, not only it is located in a modern building with adjacent parking, but it also shows very interesting collections including a complete rural Chinese house. I would say that if your are in Salem, skip all the witch frenzy and spend your afternoon here.

We enjoyed walking through the exhibits. Great artwork. Very interesting room with the nautical figureheads of ships, level 2 room 206, Susan Philipsz: If I With You Would Go Sit and listen for a while.

Average museum. If you have a student ID you get a discount. I brought a tote bag and (small) backpack from shopping. I knew ahead of time I would have to put it in a locker (no charge with ticket). The lockers are big, but probably not for a diaper bag for more than one kid (if that gives an idea). It felt more on viewing the art type of museum than an interactive or learning museum type. There were displays giving information about some of the material and works inside, but nothing I thought was very informative. The first floor was the most interesting floor. It's a must for Salem visit, but I wouldn't say it is for everyone. Enjoyed the maritime (1st floor), but not much else. Skip the third floor, which is just the fashion exhibit.

I did not tour the Yin Yu Tang house, but I did witnessed a few people not enjoy it. It seemed a very short and time type of exhibit, so just be mindful of that.

We spent 1 full day in Salem on a road trip. Though I'd seen the Peabody Essex Museum in a few guides recommended, it wasn't on my to do list as I wanted to prioritize the famous "Witch Trials" stuff

I assumed it would essentially be just another museum displaying historical artifacts and arts from around the world. I live in London and we have the several museums which display much the same so I figured it would just be more of the same.

But it was recommended by several people we met so we decided to give it a chance and it was much better than I thought.

The signature exhibition is the Chinese House which is actually very impressive, and almost worth the price of admission on it's own. It's less a house and more an entire compound. It's definitely not something we have in any of the London Museums.

Granted the rest of it is mostly oriental and native american art, but it's interesting enough to wander around.

The crux of my review is, I still felt time spent in the museum was not time wasted. I was able to fit in the Trolley bus tour, Witch Museum and wander around for a bit at the same time.

Lot of great exhibits, even if some were not all that personally interesting. The exhibits for 1692 witch trials, Moby Dick illustrations, Magician/Illusionist history and Maritime all were well done and worth the time to view. Some of the others were interesting but I didn't spend much time on.

We entered expecting more exhibits of local history and artifacts. The museum collection was beautiful and interesting but there were in the process of installing many new exhibits. I would have liked to go on one of the home tours as that was more of what I was interested in during my visit.

omg!! love this place so so much two see! When in Salem this place is a must see !!!!
You will not be disappointed ! Summer prices are cheaper $ 14

This is probably my favourite place in Salem, and probably the only place worth visiting for (especially if you are not a big fan of tacky Halloween stuff prevalent in the rest of the town).

Had a really great time here and I particularly enjoyed the Yin Yu Tang exhibit, maritime arts, Indian arts section. There is one section dedicated entirely to Salem witch trial, witches in contemporary society - which is pretty interesting. There’s also a Alexander McQueen-designed garment, inspired by one of his ancestors, Elizabeth How, a victim of the witch trials - which is definitely a highlight of the visit.

Didn’t expect Peabody Essex to be this good, so I was pleasantly surprised to know there’s a lot to see in the museum. The staff is super friendly as well. The museum went through a renovation in 2019 (or maybe 2017? I don’t know), and everything here is in great shape. 100% would recommend. I spent ~3 hours there but if you are looking to explore Salem and beyond during your trip - 1-2 tours should be enough too.

Well done aesthetics and exhibitions -- and well thought out covid protocols. A must do in Salem.

It's a shame that the exhibition on the Salem Witch Trials can't be made permanent.

We went to see the Chinese House: my fourth time and the twins first. Really interesting, nice guards, it generated a lot of discussion at lunch and on the drive home. This time I Photoed all the stone carvings on the inside court stone foundations. I had not remembered them from before. We then saw the Kimsooja interactive clay ball making for the large meditative experience at the lit ginormous oval table in a dark room. Wonderful attendant there who explained the artist’s intent and the background sound effects. We all thought this was awesome and were sad that there were no post cards of this art work. We then saw the Min River photo exhibit. The kids liked the digital display of all the photos where you could zoom into photo details and the open original album that gave one a sense of its scale. Last we went to see Cleopatra’s Barge and were surprised to find it was the interior set up of a ship’s salon! The kids zoomed in on the original log drawing of Pompey the patriotic cat,ignoring all the empire 19th. C. Salon furniture!! This was key because we had an upcoming Fame privateer sunset sail next. Lunch in the court was wonderfully kid friendly with menu choices. $$$, but good for tired granny feet. Choosing post cards relevant to what we had seen in the gift shop was fun. Twins wrote those waiting in park for late pm sail. Marine and art history of Salem in a short afternoon; awesome. PS we are friends with Moshe who designed the atrium addition and continue to love the space.

Excellent museum with diverse exhibits in a great setting.

Large exhibit space allows for a wide range of exhibits, all beautifully displayed and organized. From a recent exhibit of Jacob Lawrence panels to a past exhibit of mobile constructs built to move with wind power along a beach, it is a pleasure to visit this wonderfully curated museum.

Definitely worth the trip to Salem and even the hassle of finding parking. Ignore the touristy shops linked to the city’s history with witches that you have to pass by to get to the museum. Just keep walking to the museum entrance and don’t get side-tracked with the junk they are selling.

Spectacular displays of wealth and finery US tradesmen acquired abroad thanks to their bravery and skill at trading in foreign lands. Fine porcelains, fabrics, artworks, are shown and interpretive information is provided on patterns of trade some legal, some not. Contains many mini video rooms to rest while viewing relevant films further enlightening the exhibit halls. A cafeteria is operating on the premises.

We didn't have a lot of time to go through this museum. Lots to see so make sure you give yourself at least a few hours. The model boats were my favorite part and could have spent a lot more time with that.

Particularly interesting exhibit on art and then environment. Appreciated the acknowledgment of Native American culture in the region. The collection is a bit eclectic, but very well-curated.

I highly recommend the museum notify guests before they purchase their tickets that they require the MA state travel form (aka a negative covid test or proof of quarantine). Luckily we had completed this, but it made the process of entering the museum very confusing. I also recommend making the website less confusing when purchasing tickets. You had to choose different entry times for each exhibit and you had to have tickets for each exhibit, even if you already had a general admission ticket for the entire museum. The website wouldn’t even allow us to do this so it just contributed to the entire experience being confusing.

They advertised a children’s section...do yourself a favor if you think they will be engaged. Not for small children. Found some hipsters enjoying the kid section.
It was actually pretty useless. I get the thoreau influence on part of it, but just find a park if you want the 8 and under
To enjoy themselves.
That was strange enough, but the performance artist, omg , Give me a break.
There is a display of mounted birds and you can listen to their calls, musical toys. Bring hand sanitizer.
Just a dry and boring children’s section. The adult section with all the breakables looked good though.

What an amazing informative place for all ages to explore and learn about history. I highly recommend getting free tickets to see the ying Lu house from China!!!

The Peabody Essex Museum is a top notch location to view American and Asian art. The works on exhibit are all is excellent condition and of high artistic quality. There is a large range of categories - so the focus of the museum is a bit scattered, bit this is a minor point. I found the Asian Export gallery to be the most fascinating and diverse. There are also several installations by contemporary artists that are very worthwhile to view.
The presentation of "All the Flowers Are for Me" by Anil Quayyum Agha is not to be missed.