Did you know Salem used to be a summer vacation hot-spot? Resorts like Lake Spring Hotel brought visitors from across the country. You can see this jewelry box on display this weekend as part of the Salem Museum’s Hands-On History Saturday program. Lake Spring Hotel was famous for its dances and the lake where visitors could fish and swim. Sadly, the hotel burned down in 1892, but the property still lives on today as Lake Spring Park.
This month, Hands on History highlights “Ghostly Possessions,” items from this year’s Ghost Walk characters. On Saturdays, visitors can pull on a glove and touch a piece of history with their own hands.
To learn more about Lake Spring Hotel, come to Ghost Walk Oct. 6-8. East Hill Cemetery comes alive after dark just once a year. Tour the historic graveyard and meet notable characters from Salem’s past. These walking tours are family-friendly, fun and informative, but not scary. Tours leave the Salem Museum every 15 minutes from 6 to 8 p.m. Advance tickets are recommended. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students of any age and free for children 3 and younger. Tickets are available now at the Salem Museum and online at SalemMuseum.org.