Statue of Roger Conant

The Roger Conant statue stands across from Salem Common, in front of the Salem Witch Museum, and honors the man regarded as the founder of Salem and one of the key figures in the city’s earliest history. Conant arrived in the area in the 1620s and helped establish the settlement, known by its Native name Naumkeag, that later became Salem. The bronze figure shows him wrapped in a long cloak.

The statue is the work of sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson, who also created the Minuteman statue on Lexington Battle Green. Thanks to the cloak and its spot outside a witch museum, the figure is sometimes mistaken for a witch, though it commemorates the town’s founder. It makes an easy stop on a walk between the Common and the downtown shops and restaurants.

What to Know

• The statue was dedicated in 1913.
• It is a popular photo stop for visitors exploring Salem.
• As an outdoor public monument, it can be viewed from the sidewalk at no charge.