Group Tours at Phillips House (1821)

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See what life was like on historic Chestnut Street

Treat yourself to a stroll down Salem’s Chestnut Street, one of the most beautiful streets in America. Visit Phillips House, the only mansion on the street open to the public and learn the story of the Phillips family and their live-in domestic staff, who emigrated from Ireland. Learn the curious history of how the house came to be on Chestnut Street.

Discover rooms decorated with Federal-era furniture, Chinese export porcelain, ship portraits, and artifacts collected in Hawaii and Polynesia. Look inside the kitchen, pantry, and a staff bedroom to see how houses functioned as new technologies emerged. The Carriage House, featuring antique carriages and two Pierce-Arrow automobiles, illustrates changes in transportation that affected work and play.

Location:
34 Chestnut Street, Salem, Massachusetts
978-744-0440

Hours of Operation:

June to October, Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
All group tours must be scheduled by appointment. In addition to open days, group tours may be scheduled at times the museum is closed to the public, including November – May.

Images courtesy of Lightshed Photography.

Specialty Tours

We are happy to work with you to customize your experience.

Guided House Tour: Enjoy an approximately one-hour guided tour; please allow one and a half hours for your visit.
Irish Experience: What did it take to keep Phillips House running smoothly? Get a glimpse of the daily duties of the Phillips family’s Irish domestic staff and the living conditions for staff at this well-appointed home. Hear the stories of cook Bridget Durgin, waitress Delia Cawley, and nursemaid Catherine Shaughnessy and see where they lived as it looked in 1919. Space is limited.

Gadgets and Gizmos: Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Phillips House, exploring the inventions and innovations necessary for running a “modern” early twentieth-century household.

Tour Details

Up to 12 visitors can tour the house with each guide; generally we can accommodate up to 36 visitors in the house in one hour. Accommodations can be made for larger groups.
Please note that the tour requires a considerable amount of standing and stair climbing. If members of your group need special assistance, please let the museum know in advance.

Cost:

Guided House Tour: $13 per adult for groups of 8 or more visitors. Additional rates apply for all other tours. Prices subject to change.
Receptive tour operator rates available upon request.
Tour leader or class instructor and bus driver are welcome to a complimentary tour with the group.
A non-refundable deposit based on your maximum number is due upon booking. The outstanding balance must be paid when the group arrives on-site for the tour.
Please call two weeks in advance to confirm a guaranteed number of visitors.

Nearby Attractions:

Explore the historic port city of Salem with its wealth of museums, historic sites, and charming shops and restaurants. Visit Destination Salem for ideas, recommendations and events around town.
Visit other Historic New England properties nearby. Package discounts available.
- Cogswell’s Grant, Essex – A mecca for lovers of American folk art, Cogswell’s Grant was the summer home of renowned collectors Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little.
- Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester – The summer home of one of America’s first professional interior designers, Henry Davis Sleeper. Perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor, Beauport became Sleeper’s retreat, backdrop for entertaining, professional showcase, and an inspiration to all who visited.

Join us at our annual Phillips House Annual Car Meet, where vintage and antique vehicles are displayed on historic Chestnut Street. Held the second Sunday in August.

Amenities:

Two restrooms are located in the house (not wheelchair accessible).
Museum shop offering an assortment of books and souvenirs
Visit the Carriage House for a self-guided tour. See the Phillips family’s collection of carriages, two Pierce-Arrows, and a Model A Ford.
Two-hour on-street parking is available on Chestnut Street. During the month of October, parking on Chestnut Street is reserved for residents only. Two-hour on-street parking is available on adjacent Pickering and Warren Streets. If you would like to extend your visit or are traveling by bus, go to the city’s website to learn more about public parking areas within walking distance of Phillips House.

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