THE HOUSE of the SEVEN GABLES  Salem, Massachusetts

The House of the Seven Gables is the historic property made famous as the setting for one of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s most famous works, a novel of the same name. The structure is a fine example of American First Period architecture and holds an important place in Salem’s maritime and social history. Through the centuries the house changed hands from family to family before its acquisition by philanthropist Caroline Emmerton in 1908. Emmerton modified the structure so as to both mirror the setting of Hawthorne’s novel and also provide social services and job training to recently arrived immigrants to Salem. Today, the Gables is a major tourist attraction and continues to provide assistance to recent immigrants.

ObjectIDEA partnered with the The House of the Seven Gables Settlement Association to discuss goals, strategies, and objectives in preparation for a new interpretive plan. The plan evaluated the effectiveness of the Gables’s current exhibits, tours, and visitor experience, and offers recommendations for potential improvements.