Few communities have the rich legacy of historic houses that Salem, Massachusetts, boasts. These homes, spanning four centuries, help define the character as well as the appearance of the city, and every year some of their owners invite visitors in to view their homes decked out in full holiday regalia.
Held annually the first weekend in December, Christmas in Salem inaugurates the holiday season, bringing thousands of visitors to see our homes and enjoy our city. The first Christmas house tour took place in 1979 under the combined auspices Historic Salem, Inc. and the Visiting Nurses Association of the North Shore. Historic Salem has since assumed responsibility for the tour, and it is now the organization’s major fundraising effort. A significant portion of the 2009 proceeds will be used to restore the interior of the Nathaniel Bowditch house, a National Historic Landmark and HSI’s headquarters.
Each year, the tour highlights different homes in different neighborhoods, and the funds are designated for a variety of projects. In 2009, Christmas in Salem focuses on houses surrounding or near Salem Common, originally the training grounds for the local militia. As Federalists and Republicans chose sides politically, they also chose the side of town on which they would build their mansions, the Federalists opting for Chestnut Street and the more conservative Republicans remaining near the Common.
