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Phillips House, Salem

4.8
#5 of 16 in Historic Sites in Salem
Architectural Building · Hidden Gem · Historic Site
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The Phillips House Museum is a Historic New England property located in Salem, Mass.

In 1821, four intact rooms from an earlier house were transported by ox sled to Salem's fashionable Chestnut Street to form the core of a new Federal-style mansion being constructed by Captain Nathaniel West. Nearly a century later, Anna Phillips bought the house and launched a fourteen-month renovation in the Colonial Revival style. When she, her husband Stephen Willard Phillips, and their five-year-old son moved in, they brought with them a family collection that spans five generations and blossomed during Salem's Great Age of Sail.

Phillips House is the only home on historic Chestnut Street open to the public, and it provides a glimpse into the private world of the Phillips family during the early decades of the twentieth century. The kitchen, pantry, and a domestic staff bedroom, present a rarely seen picture of how the great houses functioned as new technologies were being introduced.

The unusual collection on display is representative of the Phillips’ extensive travels and interests. It includes a Hawaiian and Polynesian objects, as well as fine examples of early American furniture, Persian carpets, and an extensive collection of export porcelain. In the carriage house, visitors can view the family's collection of carriages and automobiles that spans nearly a hundred years.

Open: Tuesday - Sunday, May 1 - October 31, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., guided tours every half hour. Last tour departs at 4 pm.

Historic New Egland members tour for free.
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Phillips House reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 5.0
144 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • We stumbled upon this by total accident and honestly went in because we really needed to use the restroom but boy are we glad we did! My husband and I still talk about how beautiful this place was... 
    We stumbled upon this by total accident and honestly went in because we really needed to use the restroom but boy are we glad we did! My husband and I still talk about how beautiful this place was...  more »
  • My partner and I visited and had a wonderful time! The house is absolutely gorgeous and extremely well preserved. Our tour guide was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable of the family, the house and... 
    My partner and I visited and had a wonderful time! The house is absolutely gorgeous and extremely well preserved. Our tour guide was excellent. Extremely knowledgeable of the family, the house and...  more »
Google
  • I'm a Salem resident and I am on a mission to tour all the local attractions AND historic houses. About this one: What a wonderful experience! Our guide today - I feel bad that I don't remember his name - was extremely knowledgeable and quite entertaining. I was not sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a very fascinating tour. The "garage", with original carriages and antique cars, it's probably the most stunning section of the tour. And learning about the history of the house and of the families who lived there was particularly interesting. I recommend it to anyone who is visiting Salem and might be sick and tired of hearing about witches :) :) eheh
  • What a great house with a fascinating history, complimented by staff who truly love the estate and all of its unique features. Highly recommend taking the tour, and when you’re done, take a stroll down the prettiest street in Salem!

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