Dynamic History Salem

03/14/2024

Hi friends,

Here's my latest post on the blog if you're interested.

Just a note, this Facebook account will be closing soon, so if you'd still like to follow me on social media, feel free to find me on Instagram, and/or subscribe to my blog.

Have a lovely day!

A reflection on: John Proctor is the Villain Growing up, English classes were usually my favorites, particularly in high school. In high school I had amazing teachers who made texts come alive for …

02/21/2024

Good morning Salem :)

An update for my followers:

I'm going to be closing my Dynamic History Salem page in the next month or so. I will be keeping a public Instagram account, so if you'd still like to follow me, the new name is (logo below).

Since I closed my tour company I've been playing around with ideas for what to call my Instagram account and website. I want to thank you all again for taking an interest in my work. I'm touring for Witch City Walking Tours so if you ever want to take a tour with me you definitely still can.

I'm certainly not the only one I know who is giving thought to how I want to more consciously use social media as a tool for creative expression and community benefit. I'll let you know what I come up with. :)

01/29/2024

Hi friends, I want to thank you for following Dynamic History Salem and taking an interest in my posts about Salem, MA.

As some of you know, DHS used to be a walking tour company. Now that I'm not giving walking tours through DHS, I've been playing around with different ideas for what to do with my website and social media accounts.

I'm taking some time this winter to figure out what I want to spend my time on next. In the meantime, this account will be quiet for a while.

I hope you all have a quiet and enjoyable winter, and wish you a great start to 2024. :)

12/16/2023

I had a fun outing with Salem Sound Coastwatch and some feathery friends last weekend at Winter Island Park. Feel free to check out my blog for the latest post.

Happy Friday Salem!

11/28/2023

I’m joining forces with people and organizations in nearly every country for –a global day of giving and unity that takes place today. Follow for ideas and ways you can help.

And check out my latest blog post for some suggestions to support Salem (https://dynamichistorysalem.com/2023/11/28/a-day-of-giving/). Feel free to comment here or on the blog with your favorite local nonprofits!

10/11/2023

So excited for this! If you’re a Salem local or an October visitor feel free to stop by at the market tomorrow and chat with us 😀

10/08/2023

Thank you Salem MA Police for keeping us all safe out there today! We appreciate you.

10/05/2023

This is the busiest time of year for a tour guide in Salem, so I've got lots to think about. One of the odd things about my work is that I'm welcoming people to Salem to celebrate Halloween, and then among other things, I'm telling them about the Puritans.

The Puritans and Halloween? Odd combination, right? Well, maybe not. I invite you to read my latest blog post. :)

10/05/2023

Hi friends! There's a lot to think about here in Salem in October. I've got another blog post live that I'd love you to read. If you enjoy hearing from me, feel free to subscribe to the blog!

Happy spooky season!

This post is another reflection on what it’s like interacting with the public as a tour guide here in Salem, MA, and to witness the meaningful interactions that guests have with our beautiful…

09/26/2023

Ever wondered why Charlotte Forten Park on Derby Street doesn't have a likeness of Charlotte Forten in it? I have.

It's on its way. Voting is open to Salem residents and business owners to decide among four artists' proposals.

Here is the link:

Project Overview The City of Salem Salem Public Art Commission and the Charlotte Forten Memorial Project Advisory Committee have selected with input from the community the artists/artist teams as semi-finalists to create a site-specific commemorative artwork. This piece with take shape in the form o...

08/18/2023

I’ll be giving the Irish Experience tour again at the Phillips House on Chestnut Street this Sunday, August 20 at 2pm.

On the tour you’ll learn about what it was like to live in this gorgeous house from the perspective of its Irish staff. Included in the tour you’ll see parts of the house not normally open to the public.

Tickets are $15 for Historic New England members and $25 for nonmembers. Hope you can join us!

Get a glimpse into the world of the Irish staff who kept the Phillips House running smoothly. Through the stories of cook Bridget Durkin, waitress Delia Cawley, nursemaid Catherine Shaughnessy, and chauffeur Patrick O’Hara, visitors will learn about the daily duties and what it was like to work fo...

08/01/2023

So fortunate to grab a quick and quiet lunch today in the garden behind the Ropes Mansion and Garden

Can you believe how beautiful our city is? 😀

07/26/2023

The Phillips House annual Car Meet is coming up next month on Sunday, August 13.

This year East Regiment Beer Company and Plat Du Jour will be providing refreshments for the first time, alongside dozens of classic cars lined up on Chestnut Street. There will be music too 😀

It’s always a good time! Hope to see you there.

Join Historic New England and the North Shore Old Car Club for the 21st Annual Car Meet! On Sunday, August 13th from noon to 3:00 p.m., historic Chestnut Street will be lined with vintage and antique vehicles, including Phillips House’s own Model A Ford. Enjoy the first floor of Phillips House, an...

06/24/2023

Happy Pride, Salem!
🌈😀

06/22/2023

Congrats to my boss and colleagues at Witch City Walking Tours 😀

Travel site Tripadvisor unveiled the user-ranked list on Tuesday, placing the History & Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour by Witch City Walking Tours at the very top.

06/10/2023

Phillips House is all ready for Gatsby Night! It’s not too late to stop by for the 7pm start time and buy a ticket for a wonderful performance and reception. It’ll be a festive night Historic New England 😀

Happy weekend everyone!

Kick off the summer season in style, old sports! Join Historic New England and Theater in the Open for a night in West Egg. Following characters throughout Phillips House, hear passages from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby , and experience this enduring classic in a unique setting. Come as ...

06/03/2023

Great news: Phillips House on Chestnut Street is open for the season! I give tours there, and it’s a wonderful place to explore Salem’s history. Yes, I am biased 😉

Tours run on the hour, 11-4, Thursdays-sundays. Adults $15; seniors $13; children $7. Salem residents and Historic New England members are free.

Also check out the fun event we’re having on June 10: 1920s-themed Gatsby Night. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers.

If you want to become a member of Historic New England and tour over 30 properties for free, you can stop by Phillips House today and buy a special discounted membership during our open house.

Happy weekend!

Kick off the summer season in style, old sports! Join Historic New England and Theater in the Open for a night in West Egg. Following characters throughout Phillips House, hear passages from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and experience this enduring classic in a unique setting. Come as y...

04/16/2023

Very happy to be representing Phillips House and Historic New England at this Ancestry Days event on Saturday! 😀

04/08/2023

Many thanks to those who have joined Christopher Padgett and I for Witch City Walking Tours special “Murder Through a New Lens” tour the past two days!

Its a brand new tour and there are still tickets left for tomorrow (Saturday) at 4:30pm.

It’s a historical murder mystery, a look into 1830s Salem, and a photography workshop.

Whether you have a camera on your phone or a fancy professional camera, Chris will have tips for taking beautiful photos of Salem sites.

And I’ll have the details of the story that connected three powerful merchant families here in 1830.

Tickets available through Witch City Walking Tours and TripAdvisor.

Happy weekend everyone!

Photo credits: Christopher Padgett, Witch City Walking Tours, Dynamic History Salem LLC

04/01/2023

Next week local photographer Chris Padgett and I will be teaming up with Witch City Walking Tours to offer a special walking tour on the anniversary of Captain Joseph White’s 1830 murder.

As I relate the story of the crime, the historical context, and the resultant trials, Chris will offer personalized photography instruction to guests so they can capture beautiful images of the sites we visit.

I love immersive learning experiences and I think this walking tour/photography workshop is going to be fun 😀

You can read my blog post about the tour on my website or find tickets on Witch City’s website or TripAdvisor.

April 6&7, 4:30pm

Have a wonderful weekend!

03/28/2023

Hi Friends! I finally have a new blog post to share and it's about a new tour.

Local photographer Christopher Padgett and I have spent the last couple of months dreaming up a combination walking tour/photography workshop, and Witch City Walking Tours has generously agreed to offer it April 6 and 7. :)

The murder of Captain Joseph White in April 1830 provides a fascinating lens through which to view Salem's changing identity.

03/24/2023

Historic Salem, Inc. asked the five Salem mayoral candidates to comment on issues of historic preservation in the city.

If you’re voting in the mayoral elections or are just interested in historic preservation in Salem, this is a good read. 😀

​HSI presented our mayoral candidates with 4 questions regarding Historic Preservation in our city. See how they responded below! All candidates were given an opportunity to provide their responses...

02/28/2023

What to do on the last cold and wet day of February when you don’t have a tour? I’m fortunate to say: eat a delicious lunch and work on an upcoming 1692 witch trials project 😀 #1692

02/25/2023

The trolley tour commemorating the anniversary of Leslie’s Retreat was a success!
Judy Anderson from Marblehead Walking Tours was able to pack a lot of revolutionary history and cultural context into 90 minutes 😀

Here are some pics from Marblehead and also from the beautiful St. Peter’s Church in Salem where the tour ended.

St. Peter’s was Anglican (which later became Episcopal) at the time of the Revolution and they have a pew dedicated in remembrance to British General Gage, who worshipped there while he was stationed on the North Shore.

I also spotted the Bowditch family pew! That's Salem's own Nathaniel Bowditch, author of the American Practical Navigator, originally published in the early nineteenth century and still in print and in use today.

More events are coming up tomorrow, starting at 1pm at First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist. If you’re interested in the revolutionary war history of Salem this is a great event to check out. More info can be found on the Leslie’s Retreat and Salem Resistance page.

Thanks to Judy, First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist, Salem Historical Society, and Salem Night Tour for their support 😀

And if you’re wondering why I included the historic plaque for Josiah Bartlett’s house? I do love West Wing 😉

Stay warm out there!

02/22/2023

Looking for something fun and interesting to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

This year I'll be leading two of the "Irish Experience" tours at Historic New England's Phillips House. The tour will explore early twentieth-century life in Salem from the perspective of the Phillips family's household staff.

As was common at the time, the household's entire staff were either Irish immigrants, first, or second generation Irish-Americans.

The tour will be longer (90 minutes) and cover more of the behind-the-scenes spaces of the house than you'd get to see on the regular house tour. :)

My wonderful colleague Tom will be leading the 10am tours on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, and I'll be leading the 2pm tours. Tickets are only $15 for HNE members and $25 for nonmembers. We'd love to see you at Phillips House!

March 17, 2023

02/20/2023

Happy February break to those in our local schools!

This week The House of the Seven Gables is offering free admission to folks from different neighboring towns each day during their "Welcome Home Week."

It's a great chance to get to the Gables with your children and learn some fun local history alongside beautiful Salem harbor. :)

The House of the Seven Gables is bringing back our Welcome Home Days this February school vacation. Each day of the week we will be offering free admission to particular local towns' residents.

02/18/2023

I hope you’ll all plan to join in on the commemoration of Leslie’s Retreat next weekend! I’ll be attending as many of the events as I can as a member of Salem Historical Society.

The guided trolley tour between Marblehead and Salem is going to be especially cool.

I think it’s fascinating to remember the times when people under great pressure chose not to fight and were able to avoid tragedy.

We are excited to announce this year's Leslie's Retreat & Salem Resistance events. All are free and open to the public.
MARK THE OCCASION. JOIN THE RANKS.

01/23/2023

Ocean? What ocean?

Lol. It’s getting wintery here in Salem friends!