Holiday Happenings - Salem, MA

SEO Title: Historic House Tours Salem MA | House of Seven Gables Meta Description: Tour the House of the Seven Gables in Salem MA, Newsweek’s 2025 Best Historic Home. 1668 mansion, secret staircase, seaside gardens. Holiday tours available. Focus Keyphrase: historic house tours Salem MA Category: Historic Sites & Tours

Experience Salem’s most beloved historic landmark this holiday season at the House of the Seven Gables. Located on scenic Salem Harbor, this National Historic Landmark District offers guided mansion tours, beautiful colonial gardens, and 330 years of maritime and literary history. Built in 1668, the House of the Seven Gables inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s legendary novel and continues to captivate visitors with its architectural beauty and fascinating secret staircase.

Discover New England’s Oldest 17th Century Mansion

The House of the Seven Gables, also known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, stands as the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. Recently named Newsweek’s Best Historic Home Tour for 2025, this Salem treasure welcomes visitors year-round with professionally guided 45-minute tours through multiple historic buildings. Explore the main mansion’s mysterious hidden staircase, pristine Georgian architecture, and original period features spanning four centuries. The campus includes five historic houses, including the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, which was moved to this scenic waterfront location in 1958.

Beyond the architecture, the House of the Seven Gables carries forward an important community mission established in 1910 by Salem activist Caroline Emmerton. The Settlement House continues offering free English as a Second Language classes and citizenship preparation programs, providing a vital platform for immigrant voices on the North Shore. Your visit supports both historic preservation and these essential community programs.

Holiday Season Visits & Tour Information

Throughout the holiday season, the House of the Seven Gables offers daily guided tours and grounds passes for visitors exploring downtown Salem. Tours run throughout the day and include access to the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion interior, the Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, the Counting House, and the museum store. Grounds passes provide access to the seaside colonial revival gardens, historic buildings (exterior), and self-guided audio tours of the property.

The 2-acre waterfront campus features stunning 18th-century granite seawalls and meticulously maintained gardens that reflect period-accurate landscaping. Morning fog rolling in from Salem Harbor creates magical photo opportunities, while the gardens offer peaceful spaces for reflection amidst your exploration of downtown Salem. The museum houses more than 2,000 artifacts, 40 framed works, 500 photographs, and rare book collections documenting Salem’s rich history.

The Museum Store at The House of the Seven Gables offers year-round shopping for history and literature enthusiasts. Browse unique gifts, books (including Hawthorne’s novels), and curated items that celebrate Salem’s maritime and literary heritage. The store is housed in the historic Retire Beckett House (1655), one of the oldest structures on the museum campus. Open daily during regular museum hours, the shop offers everything to satisfy collectors, history buffs, and those seeking thoughtful gifts inspired by Salem’s rich past.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 115 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970

Hours: Open daily 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (February through December)
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and first two weeks of January

Admission: Advanced reservations required for both mansion tours and grounds passes. Visit 7gables.org for current pricing and to purchase tickets.

Phone: (978) 744-0991

Website: 7gables.org

Email: info@7gables.org 

Tours: 45-minute guided tours available throughout the day. Audio tour app included with admission. Written translations available in Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Parking: Limited on-site parking available. Public transportation and nearby public parking recommended, especially during busy holiday season.

Accessibility Note: The historic nature of the buildings includes multiple levels and period staircases. Contact the venue directly for specific accessibility questions.

Note: All ticket purchases are non-refundable. Advance planning recommended during the holiday season when Salem experiences high visitor volume.

Holiday Happenings Supporting Sponsor

The House of the Seven Gables is proud to support Holiday Happenings as a Supporting Sponsor, helping to create Salem’s premier guide to holiday shopping, events, and seasonal experiences in downtown Salem.