We Are Coming
Welcome! This is where you can sign up for Ray Swartz's Salem History Lovers tours. My 2024 season begins on May 15.
Who is Ray Swartz?
I am a licensed Salem tour guide. My background is science and engineering and I also worked three years as a teacher at Brookline High School. I moved to Salem nine years ago and after I retired, I became fascinated by the local history and not just the Witch Trials. I paid my dues as a guide on the Salem Trolley for three years. I started giving walking tours on my own, and in 2023 I expanded to three different tours.
I do not believe in ghosts. I believe in giving you the most accurate, multifaceted history of this place including how it became the Halloween capital of the world. Since I am a local, I point out the best restaurants and other aspects of today's Salem.
What would you like to know more about?
Early America: Puritans and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Injustice: The Salem Witch Trials.
Wealth: Salem became the richest city in America for thirty years.
Adventure: Sailing ships, captains, pirates, gold and silver, the Far East.
Architecture: Hundreds of great-looking very old houses.
Revolution: The American War of Independence started in Salem.
Murder and Decline: The most infamous murder in American history.
Today: Salem is the home of over two thousand real witches.
Today: Salem is the Halloween capital of the world.
Today: Salem is a foodie destination with over thirty great bars and restaurants.