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1 hr 30 min
Design and build your own enchanted besom in Salem's most magical hands-on workshop
Reserve
2 hr
Discover maritime heritage and supernatural legends on a 2-hour guided stroll through Salem's historic core
Reserve
1 hr 30 min
Uncover Salem's haunted past with a paranormal investigator through witch trial sites and active spirit locations
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
Select your preferred length and wood type for your salem ma broom making class creation.
The Witchery offers a hands-on creative session, while historical walking tours provide immersive storytelling; choosing between them depends on whether you prefer active crafting or passive observation.
| Feature | Top pick The Witchery | Historical Walking Tours |
|---|---|---|
Experience Type |
Tactile craft workshop | Outdoor guided narrative |
Engagement Level |
Active participation | Passive observation |
Souvenir Outcome |
Handmade broom | None |
Physical Activity |
Sedentary at workbench | Moderate walking |
Social Setting |
Small intimate group | Large public group |
Average Duration |
1.5–2 hours | 1–2 hours |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: If you want to secure salem ma broom making class tickets for a tangible memento, book the workshop; otherwise, opt for salem ma broom making class tours of the city's landmarks to explore local lore.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
86 Wharf St, Salem, MA 01970
Main workshop location
Take the MBTA Commuter Rail from North Station to Salem Station.
Park in public garages near Pickering Wharf, noting the 2-hour limit.
Wear comfortable, unrestrictive clothing and closed-toe shoes. Shoes must remain on throughout the duration of the class.
Large bags are discouraged as space is limited. The venue does not offer secure luggage storage.
Photography is generally permitted during the salem ma broom making class, provided it does not disrupt the instructor or other guests.
The studio space strives to be inclusive, but guests should reach out to management via phone or email for specific disability accommodations prior to arrival.
The salem ma broom making class is designed for participants aged 13 and older who can craft independently. Non-registered children and strollers are not permitted in the workshop space.
No food or drink is permitted at the workstations to protect the crafting materials. Please consume refreshments before entering.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
Mild weather and fewer crowds for your salem ma broom making class experience.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
The salem ma broom making class frequently sells out, especially during the autumn season.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
A historic waterfront area with various shops and eateries overlooking the harbor.
A solemn site commemorating those who suffered during the 1692 trials.
A historic municipal building often used for local community events and performances.
One of the oldest continuously operating museums in the country featuring global art.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Cancellations communicated via email or phone 24 hours in advance are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made within 24 hours of a workshop are not eligible for a refund.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
A landmark hotel in the heart of the city known for its classic architecture.
Conveniently located near the wharf, offering easy access to the harbor.
A historic bed and breakfast offering an authentic local experience.
The Witchery opened on Salem's historic waterfront in 2015, reviving a 300-year-old Colonial trade that once supplied every household from Boston to Portsmouth with straw besoms bundled in the English manner. The workshop occupies a restored sail loft at 86 Wharf Street, where ships once unloaded hemp cordage and broomcorn—Sorghum bicolor—harvested along the Merrimack River and pressed into bundles by ropemakers' guilds. Today the space retains its original post-and-beam frame, wide-plank floors worn smooth by two centuries of foot traffic, and tall windows that flood the teaching floor with north light. The salem ma broom making class teaches the Shaker flat-broom technique, a design patented in 1798 that replaced the round European besom and became the American standard by the 1820s. Participants work with natural materials: broomcorn stalks dried to a pale gold, waxed linen twine, and kiln-dried ash handles milled in Vermont. Each session runs two hours and produces a functional 14-inch hearth broom that will last five to seven years with regular use. Instructors demonstrate the four-stage binding process—sorting stalks by length, winding the core, stitching the shoulders, trimming the sweep—then guide students through every step. No prior craft experience is required; the tools are hand-operated vises and stitching needles, and the pace accommodates beginners. Salem's association with broom craft long predates the 1692 witch trials, though popular imagery has conflated the two. Maritime records from 1640 list "besomes" among ship provisions, and probate inventories from the 1670s catalog broom-binding tools in nearly every second household. The Witchery preserves this vernacular history through its workshop program, which runs year-round except Mondays. The studio also carries a curated selection of locally sourced materials—bundles of sweet grass, indigo-dyed twine, carved handles in cherry and walnut—available for purchase after class. Salem ma broom making class tours accommodate up to eight students per session, ensuring individual attention from the lead instructor. Advance booking is required; walk-ins cannot be accommodated due to material preparation timelines. The workshop charges no general admission fee; all visits are by scheduled reservation only.
"The Shaker flat-broom technique, patented in 1798, replaced the round European besom and became the American standard by the 1820s."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You arrive at 86 Wharf Street ten minutes before your reserved session and climb a narrow staircase to the second-floor loft. The instructor greets you at a workbench already set with your materials: a bundle of broomcorn stalks, a coil of waxed twine, a smooth ash handle, and a floor vise anchored to the table edge. She demonstrates the sorting process, separating stalks by thickness, then shows you how to gather the first layer around the handle and lock it in place with three tight wraps of twine. You work through the binding sequence step by step, pulling the cord taut after each pass, checking alignment against the instructor's model. The loft is quiet except for the creak of vises and the rustle of straw. After forty minutes your broom takes shape—dense, symmetrical, balanced in the hand. The final stage is trimming: you hold the broom upright on a cutting board while the instructor marks the sweep line, then use shears to level the bristles in one smooth pass. The finished piece is lighter than you expected, and the natural broomcorn smells faintly of hay. Before you leave, the instructor wraps your broom in brown paper and stamps it with The Witchery's mark. You descend the staircase with the bundle under one arm, passing framed photographs of Salem's rope-walk district in the 1880s, and step back onto Wharf Street carrying a tool you made yourself.
The Witchery is open Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00, offering various slots for your salem ma broom making class.
Workshops are for ages 13 and up; non-registered children are not permitted in the salem ma broom making class space.
Please arrive 10 minutes early for your salem ma broom making class at The Witchery.
The Witchery strives for inclusivity; contact them regarding accessibility needs for your salem ma broom making class.
Cancellations at least 24 hours in advance of your salem ma broom making class are eligible for a full refund.
Wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable, unrestrictive clothing for your salem ma broom making class.
No food or drink is permitted inside the workshop area during your salem ma broom making class.
Limited public parking is available at Pickering Wharf; check signs to avoid fines during your salem ma broom making class.
Yes, advance booking is required for all spots in a salem ma broom making class as they fill up quickly.