The Homes of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Nathanial Hawthorne is generally considered the first truly great writer of literature in America. His novels such as The Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, The Blithesdale Romance, and The Marble Faun set the bar for 19^th century literature. Born in Salem, Massachusetts on July 4, 1804, Hawthorne lived most of his life in Massachusetts, and thankfully for the "literary tourist," four of the homes that Hawthorne lived in are today house museums open to the public.

Nathaniel Hawthorne House

Hawthorne was born in this modest Georgian styled home that dates to 1750. He lived here for only five years however as a result of the death of his father at sea. Captain Hawthorne was what we would today call an upwardly mobile sea captain but when his ship went down in a storm, he lost not only his life, but all of his and his family's wealth. In an era before life insurance, Mrs. Hawthorne and her two children were left with nothing and became dependent upon relatives for financial support. The house was moved from its original location on Union Street to its present location in the House of Seven Gables Historic District in 1958.

House of the Seven Gables

Yes, there really is a house called the House of Seven Gables. Made famous by Hawthorne's classic novel House of the Seven Gables, Hawthorne was in fact a frequent visitor to this house during his days in Salem and drew upon his "insider" knowledge of the house when creating his novel. Dating to 1668, the House of Seven Gables is considered the oldest extant mansion in New England. Visitors to the house will learn the inspiration for the ghost of the House of Seven Gables from the novel. The house was a stop along the Underground Railroad that smuggled slaves to freedom, and as a result, it is filled with secret passageways. So, yes people would appear and disappear, and yes, there were noises coming from behind those walls. The House of the Seven Gables is open to the public for guided tours. It is located at 57 Turner Street, Salem, Massachusetts. Admission to the House of Seven Gables and the Nathaniel Hawthorne House is $12.

Old Manse