the house which operated as a gift shop. In 1983 the Peabody Essex Museum purchased the house and the museum was later closed to make way for corporate offices. The Pickman house presently abuts the Salem Witch Memorial, which was dedicated in 1992 on the 300th anniversary of the Salem witch trials. In 2021 the home was re-opened to the public again as a welcome center for the charter street cemetery. Alleged ghost girl With a history spanning at least 300 years the Pickman House is rumored to be haunted by supernatural phenomena. Author Sam Baltrusis states in his book that several people on tours have allegedly seen a full-bodied apparition of a girl in the upper-floor window. This is also mentioned by Visionary Living, Inc in their book of an unknown girl looking out windows. According to "local folklore" the girl is from a family of three who lived in the house sometime during the 18th century. The father is said to have slowly gone insane from an evil entity and murdered both his seven year old daughter and wife before fleeing the house. Despite the story, Baltrusis admitted that he found no historical evidence to back up the claim. In a review of his book it was pointed out that Baltrusis has repeated myths that have since been corrected by historians and genealogists. Gallery See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Salem, Massachusetts List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts List of historic houses in Massachusetts List of the oldest buildings in the United States References External links Peabody Essex Museum Salem Preservation Houses completed in the 17th century Historic districts in Essex County, Massachusetts Peabody Essex Museum Houses in Salem, Massachusetts Colonial architecture in Massachusetts