Historic Downtown Salem, NJ

Built in 1735 using locally manufactured bricks and was enlarged in 1817 and 1908. In 1774, the courthouse was the site of a county petition to King George III to address various colonial grievances and for authorizing county relief to the citizens of Boston to assist them from the King’s sanctions from the Boston Tea Party incident. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson proving the edibility of the tomato.

The building was originally constructed in 1891 as Ford’s Hotel. In 1919, it was converted into the Salem County Memorial Hospital to honor World War I soldiers and sailors. Opening with 30 beds and staffed by 12 physicians and surgeons, the hospital treated 1,093 patients in its first year. By 1951, the hospital vacated the building and relocated to Mannington Township. Decades later, in 1989, the structure was renovated and renamed the Fenwick Building, becoming home to Salem County government offices.

This single-room cabin is a rare remaining example of hand-hewn, white cedar plank construction and reflects a traditional Swedish cabin. This cabin, with its glazed windows, is more elaborate than those typically constructed in the seventeenth century. Known as stugas, which translates to “room inside.” These cabins were built in small clusters or stood alone, depending on the size of the farm. Swedish settlers established small communities throughout Salem, clearing only enough land to farm.

Salem’s Friends Meeting House stands as one of the oldest Quaker meeting houses in the United States, a testament to the city’s early roots and enduring spiritual heritage. Built in 1772 to replace an earlier structure from 1685, its simple brick design reflects the Quaker values of humility and function over ornament. The meeting house played a vital role in the community’s religious and social life, serving as a gathering place for worship, decision-making, and civic discussions. Surrounded by a peaceful burial ground, it offers visitors a quiet space to reflect while connecting with the history of Salem’s earliest settlers and the principles that shaped the city’s foundation.