John Ward House (Federal Garden area), ca. 1684, is one of the finest surviving 17th-century buildings in New England. It originally stood on a one-acre plot with a kitchen garden, an outhouse, and a well – opposite the jail used during the witchcraft trials. The house was moved to the museum campus in 1910. The style of this house is often called First Period or Post-Medieval – characterized by the extremely steep pitch of the gables, large central chimney, asymmetrical façade, batten door, diamond-paned leaded casement windows, and second-story overhang. One of the earliest buildings to be relocated and restored for historic interpretation in the United States, the house is a National Historic Landmark. Architectural features: One of the finest surviving 17th-century buildings in New England. Like many First Period dwellings, it was originally built as a half-house, with a parlor, chamber, porch, large chimney, and stairway. After several additions to make it a whole house, the building took on its current characteristics: extremely steep pitched gables, asymmetrical façade, central chimney, batten door, diamond-paned leaded casement windows, and second story overhang. Designations: National Historic Landmark (1978); National Register of Historic Places (1978); National Historic District (1972)
Address
9 Brown Street Salem, MA 1970
Driving Directions
Take Route 128 North. NOTE: I-95 and Route 128 North share the same loop around Boston. When I-95 and Route 128 North divide, stay on Route 128 North, to Exit 25A. Take 114 East into Salem, following signs for the Peabody Essex Museum and Rte. 114. Approximately one mile after entering Salem, you will cross an overpass. As you come off the overpass, take the exit on your right. This puts you on Route 107/Bridge Street. Go straight through the light and take your second right, onto St Peter Street. Go left at the stop sign and right onto New Liberty Street. The museum is straight ahead and a parking garage is on your right. To park, you may use the parking garage on New Liberty Street. In addition, there is a municipal parking lot on nearby St. Peter Street, and a smaller garage on Derby Street, at the corner of Hawthorne Boulevard and Derby Street, three blocks from the museum. Limited on-street parking is available around Salem Common and at two-hour meters.
Notes & Advisories
Categories
- Historic Resources
- Museums