Passages of the Past

(6 reviews)

Salem, Massachusetts audio tour: Passages of the Past

This is a 0.8mi walking tour

It takes an average of 45 mins to complete.

Salem, Massachusetts

The United States

$9.99

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About the Tour

Passages of the Past is an immersive walking tour that introduces you to the people who helped build the Derby Street neighborhood of Salem. Hear stories from the city’s indentured servants, enslaved workers, free sailors, immigrants, entrepreneurs, and historical figures, and find out how they helped forge their way in making Salem, and the Derby Street neighborhood what it is today.

The tour is meant to be taken at a meandering pace, and we encourage you to stop, listen, and take in the sights of the neighborhood before moving on to the next GPS point. Please note that you must be close to the GPS points on the map for the next part of the story to play, and that the next track will not trigger unless the first has finished.

This experience will take you down the side streets and main thoroughfares of this historical neighborhood, beginning and ending at the House of the Seven Gables, a 17th century mansion which stands as a testament to the beginnings and evolution of the Derby Street area, and which continues to serve as a pivotal point in the Salem community today.

We encourage guests to take their time with the tour, absorb all the neighborhood has to offer, and learn the untold stories of Salem!

This tour was made possible by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council.

Tour Credits:
Written by Kristin Harris and Directed by Carly Dwyer
John Turner I&III/Herman Tyburc/Polish Worker: voiced by Mike Barry
Settlement House Student: voiced by Aife Maya Naik
Joan Sullivan, indentured servant: voiced by Arielle Yoder
Goody Turner/Caroline Emmerton/Mary Spencer: voiced by Arielle Kaplan
Mariner/Sabe & Rose/Dominican Worker: voiced by Dev Blair
Artwork: Paige Besse
Sound Effects and Editing: Nick Benevenia

Tour Producer

Intramersive Media

1 tour

Intramersive Media is an immersive game theatre company based out of Salem MA. We specialize in high production value, immersive experiences where guests can leave the realm of audience and become a part of the story. Using immersive theater, innovative storytelling and live action role playing, Intramersive gives audiences the opportunity to impact our small impermanent worlds..

Each show is a unique world which offers different levels of intensity of game play. We run events for first time immersive theatre players as well as more ambitious and adventurous spectactors. Check out our projects page to find an upcoming event right for you!

Intramersive Media is part of the creative economy and as such strives to pay its artists a living wage. When you purchase a ticket to one of our shows know your ticket is going directly to a highly trained, diverse and professional creative community. Art works.
We are very pleased to be offering these virtual immersive audio tours with a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, through a partnership with the House of the Seven Gables.

Preview Location

Location 1

Scene 1: John Turner I

Hello this is Carly Dwyer, founder and Creative Director of Intramersive Media LLC. We wanted to thank you for joining us today in exploring over 500 years of communities that have formed the neighborhood in which you stand. We want to take a moment to give you some tips and h... Hello this is Carly Dwyer, founder and Creative Director of Intramersive Media LLC. We wanted to thank you for joining us today in exploring over 500 years of communities that have formed the neighborhood in which you stand. We want to take a moment to give you some tips and heads up so that you can get your full enjoyment out of this tour. This tour was made possible by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council and the House of Seven Gables. Please support these amazing organizations who are keeping communities, art and culture alive.

This tour can be experienced on your own time. You can start and stop as you choose. We encourage you to stop and enjoy the shops and restaurants you will encounter along the way, all of these businesses are a part of this community and your patronage becomes a part of the story of the future of this neighborhood.

Please respect the city and it’s residents by adhering to all public health regulations. At the time of this tour we ask you keep a safe distance of 6 feet or more between yourself and folks not in your party. We also ask you wear masks while you travel this tour, your actions have an impact on our lives and livelihoods so please help us keep Salem healthy. Please respect the private properties that are on this tour, while the businesses appreciate your company, not all the private citizens will. Please stay on the sidewalk when possible and keep an eye on traffic if traversing a narrow street.

Stay alert of your surroundings. We have designed an audio experience to be immersive but please please please stay aware of crossings, traffic and even footing. This neighborhood has been around for hundreds of years, sidewalks and streets are not always level and narrow driveways might be hard for a motorist to see you if they are backing out.

Check the text box in the app! We provide information about the people and languages you’re hearing and more information and follow up reading you can do if something piques your interest.

We hope you enjoy this immersive cultural experience and please check out our website for more ways to interact and play.

If you have any questions concerns or comments on this tour or the app please email us at [email protected]

The land that you and this building are on is Naumkeag, or fishing place, where generations of Indigenous people, including Massachusett, Pawtucket, and other communities lived and passed through for centuries. From the village upon the Naumkeag River (now known as the North River) to Sachem Nanapeshemet's fortification (now known as Castle Hill), the people of Naumkeag fished, farmed, traded, raised families, discovered and invented, created art and above all else, honored the lands upon which you stand today. We acknowledge that this is Indigenous land and also acknowledge the Massachusett Tribe who continue to honor and hold this land into the present.

Beyond this land acknowledgement Intramersive Media LLC and the House of Seven Gables are committed to producing more in depth and expansive content concerning the people who originally inhabited Naumkeag and have honored the land through today and into the future. If you are listening to this recording today it is because the research and work with the people of these communities is still ongoing. We did not want to rush this important work and when the content concerning the Indigenous people of Naumkeag is ready we will be replacing elements of this tour with it as well as releasing the content for free on our website so that anyone can hear about the culture and lives of the Indigenous people of Naumkeag from the past, present and future.
A little higher on that beam, good sir...Yes, there. Excellent. Oh, good day to you...Captain John Turner, at your service. As you can see this house is almost finished. It will be a grand home when it’s done, and I’ve planned it out well. When I purchased this plot of land from the widow, Ann Moore, the house was in such a state that I was forced to tear it down, and begin anew. I did keep the cellar and one fireplace, but as you can see, it needed much work. The plan for it will be a two over two structure, meaning two rooms on each floor, with a large chimney in the center so that there may be fireplaces in multiple rooms…

Oh, you do not wish for me to continue talking about the architecture of my home, of that I am sure... (shyly laughing as he says this)

Twas providence that led us here. And that providence is what has dictated my life as well. I was born here to an indentured servant, well, a former indentured servant, Robert Turner, who came from England in search of a new place to call home, like so many others. He eventually finished his indenture, and then became a successful hat and shoe merchant here. It was this prosperity that led me to my own, and to build this large abode you see before you. I chose an area close to the sea, and built this large, black structure you now see before you. With its pointed gables, and large rooms, it is a sight to behold. I finished the original structure in 1668, and I plan to add a few things in the future.

I have made my career as a sea captain, made my fortune in the East Indies, and have seen this colony grow, and prosper. I can only hope that Salem will continue to be a beacon of light, for all those who seek it. There were people here when we first settled, and from what I am told, negotiations are ever-continuing. Though, I fear that they may reach a point of no return, and our zeal to develop this land for our own may have a negative impact on those who called it home long before we were guided to this place...Oh, it’s that...that girl that worked in the home for a time, what is she doing back here? Read More

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Major Landmarks

The House of the Seven Gables
The Daniels House Bed and Breakfast
The Polish Legion of American Veterans
St. Joseph's Hall
The Derby House
Customs House
Derby Wharf
Ye Olde Pepper Candy Company

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
115 Derby St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
Total distance

1km
Final location
31-19 Hardy St, Salem, MA 01970, USA
Distance back to start location

70.35m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the dead end of Turner St, on the side of the House of the Seven Gables, closest to the water.

Show Directions

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Mercy Tavern, Ye Olde Pepper Candy Company, Witch Way Gifts, Captain Dusty's Ice Cream, Waite & Pierce Shop

Best time of day

Any time. Though, you may want to take this tour during the day, to get a clear view of buildings.

Precautions

There are a few one way, narrow streets along the route. Please be aware of your surroundings, use crosswalks, and beware of uneven ground on brick and historic walkways.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”

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Questions and Reviews

3.7 / 5

6 Ratings

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Passages of the Past

About the Tour

Tour Producer

Intramersive Media

Preview Location

Location 1

Scene 1: John Turner I

How VoiceMap Works

Major Landmarks

The House of the Seven Gables

The Daniels House Bed and Breakfast

The Polish Legion of American Veterans

St. Joseph's Hall

The Derby House

Customs House

Derby Wharf

Ye Olde Pepper Candy Company