Salem Maritime National Historic Site

174 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970

(978) - 740-1660

A 20 minute car ride, or take the commuter rail line from North Station directly to Salem

Open 9-5 daily, closed on Thanksgiving Day, Dec. 25th, and Jan. 1st.

$5 for adults

Nathaniel Hawthorne claims to have “found” an actual scarlet letter as well as the story of Hester Prynne on the second floor of the Customs House. The preface to The Scarlet Letter is an “auto-biographical” recount of Hawthorne’s tenure as the head surveyor at the Customs House in Salem.