Salem Witch Trials

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Salem Witch Trials

Salem, Mass.

The Salem witchcraft trials started in January 1692, a time when the strange behavior of young girls was cause enough for a trial and hanging. Your cow died? That witch down the street did it. By the time the hysteria ended later that same year, 24 women were dead. Today, Salem is known as Witch City and commemorates these times with tours of sites connected to the trials, including the Witch House, which was actually the house of one of the trials' magistrates. In 1992 a memorial was raised to the victims of the witch hunt. Salem today is much more tolerant of witches—it has even has an honorary position for “the Official Witch of Salem, Mass.”