Salem is more than witches, goblins, ghosts and New Age and Wiccan shops; the town has a rich maritime and literary history that has left a valuable impression on the entire country. The town is home of one of the region's leading art museums, the Peabody Essex Museum, that hosts exhibits of art and artifacts from around the world and hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year. Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables, called Salem home. The real House of the Seven Gables is located in Salem and was once owned by Hawthorne's cousin. Come fall, many visit Salem for the beautiful shoreline foliage and amazing number of witch-themed museums, exhibits, parades, show and then some. Even those the witch hysteria occurred in Salem Village (in what is now the town of Danvers), that doesn't stop thousands of tourists from visiting this quaint, seaside town at Halloween.
