Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace

The Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace is a two-story wooden building with a central chimney, gambrel roof, and traditional colonial design dating to the early 1700s. Inside, original rooms and staircases remain, offering a sense of daily life during that period.

The building was constructed between 1730 and 1745 for ship captain Joshua Pickman and became the birthplace of writer Nathaniel Hawthorne in 1804. Its importance as the birthplace of a major American author made it a significant place in literary history.

The house was the first home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and shapes how people understand early American literature in Salem today. Visitors can see how a prosperous 19th-century writer's household looked and functioned.

The house is located on Hardy Street within The House of Seven Gables complex and is easily reached on foot. Visitors should know that guided tours are available and the property opens during different seasons for various visitor groups.

The entire structure was moved in 1958 from its original location on Union Street to the grounds of the Turner-Ingersoll mansion. This remarkable relocation effort allowed preservationists to save the building and place it in a new setting alongside other attractions.