Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)
The basics
The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) collection was originally held by separate institutions until the 1992 merger of the Peabody Museum of Salem and the Essex Institute. The resulting collection is showcased at PEM today. It features everything from modern and digital art to photography and multimedia installations.
You can pay the entry fee to explore the galleries, and pay a small additional fee to tour the must-see Yin Yu Tang house. Beyond the galleries, the property includes historic buildings spanning hundreds of years, including a Quaker meeting house. You can visit additional properties in the McIntire Historic District and Essex Block Neighborhood.
Things to know before you go
- The museum is wheelchair-accessible, but the historic homes are not.
- Scholars and researchers should visit the museum's Phillips Library.
- Strollers are allowed in PEM galleries, and baby-changing stations are located in all first-floor restrooms.
- Seniors, students, and kids enjoy discounted entry; Salem residents and Go Boston Pass holders are admitted free of charge.
- The museum offers amenities including storage lockers, a café, and an on-site research library.
How to get there
Conveniently-located just 16-miles (25.7-kilometers) north of Boston, you can find the museum on Essex Street in Salem. The most convenient way to reach the museum is to drive. From Boston, take Route 128 North to Exit 25A, and follow 114 East toward Salem. You can also avoid the drive if you take the high-speed ferry, or book a private day trip from Boston.
Trip ideas
When to get there
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and closed on Mondays and select holidays. Plan to arrive during the week to avoid the typically-busier weekends. The museum hosts art-making workshops, events for kids, and tours of its historic properties. Check the calendar for up-to-date listings.
Visiting the Peabody Essex Museum Properties
Make the most of your Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) visit by exploring the museum's architectural holdings beyond its immediate campus. You can stroll three blocks to the McIntire Historic District to visit the Ropes Mansion and garden, and see the late 18th-century Peirce-Nichols House. In the Essex Block Neighborhood, you find two additional National Historic Landmarks: the Gardner-Pingree House and the John Ward House. It's all a short walk from PEM.
- Things to do in Massachusetts
- Things to do in Boston
- Things to do in Long Island
- Things to do in Brooklyn
- Things to do in New York City
- Things to do in Montreal
- Things to do in Philadelphia
- Things to do in Buffalo
- Things to do in Washington DC
- Things to do in Niagara Falls
- Things to do in Niagara Falls & Around
- Things to do in Williamsburg
- Things to do in Pittsburgh
- Things to do in New York
- Things to do in Quebec