Life and labor in 17th-century Essex County challenged ingenuity and exercised courage day and night. Yet settlers persisted, laying enduring foundations for the society we know today. In an exciting summer of programming, visitors to The House of the Seven Gables will explore details of early life and First Period architecture in Essex County. Seventeenth-Century Saturdays begin June 3 and continues on the first Saturday of each month through October.
To celebrate the kickoff of 17th-Century Saturdays on June 3, The Gables will offer free garden passes as part of this region-wide open house. The garden pass allows visitors to explore The Gable’s beautiful seaside gardens, learn about the National Historic Landmark District using the UniGuide self-guided tour app and participate in a Living History Lab at the 1682 Hooper–Hathaway House. Guided tours of The House of the Seven Gables are available with regular admission. For information, visit www.7Gables.org for rates and hours.
This summer and fall program runs through October. The Gables has partnered with North of Boston and other 17th-century historic sites to share Essex County’s unique architecture and artifacts from America’s First Period (1625–1725) of European settlement. Visitors to the sites will explore Essex County’s architectural treasures and discover what it was like to live in Essex County during America’s first century. These First Period properties will be open for special tours, theatre, and art events.
The first 17th-Century Saturday coincides with the June Life and Labor Weekend at The Gables. Over the course of the weekend visitors are invited to view the exhibition, “Life and Labor Over Four Centuries at The House of the Seven Gables,” view historic work demonstrations and take part in the Living History Lab programming.
Admission to the colorful seaside gardens is free on June 3. On subsequent 17th-Century Saturdays, the garden tour and guided tours of The House of the Seven Gables are covered by admission, which is $14 for adults. The House of the Seven Gables will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday June 3. The Visitor Center is located at 115 Derby Street in Salem, Mass.