History is for Everyone

MA, USA

The House of the Seven Gables

Historic House

Built in 1668 for Captain John Turner, this is the oldest surviving timber-frame mansion in New England. The house passed through merchant families whose fortunes rose and fell with Salem's maritime economy. Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1851 novel brought the house national attention.

What Happened Here

The Turner family's shipping interests connected them to the pre-Revolutionary trade disputes that shaped Salem's politics. The house survived because later owners preserved it rather than demolishing for development.

Visiting Today

Address

115 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970

Hours

Daily 10am-5pm (seasonal hours vary)

Admission

$18 adults

Accessibility

Limited accessibility in historic house; gardens accessible

Connected Events

Feb 1775
Leslie's Retreat

Colonel Alexander Leslie

Apr 1775
Apr 1775
Captain John Derby Carries News to London

Elias Hasket Derby, Captain John Derby, Sarah Derby

Sep 1775
Salem Privateering Operations Begin

Elias Hasket Derby, Captain John Derby, Sarah Derby

May 1776
First Derby Privateer Sails

Elias Hasket Derby, Captain John Derby, Sarah Derby