Orland Park History Museum To Host New Salem Witch Trials Program

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Orland Park History Museum will be hosting an event on the Salem witch trials this Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will be held at the museum and is for ages 13 and up.

"Trial By Fire: Rebekah Goode & The Salem Witch Trials," will be an event that highlights the 1692 Salem Massachusetts experience, according to the Museum.

According to History.com, the Salem witch trials began after a group of young girls claimed to have been possessed by the devil and accused multiple local women of witchcraft. The first convicted witch was hanged in June of 1962. As people began to panic, more accusations were made. By September of 1692, some 150 men, women and children were also accused of witchcraft, according to the History website.

Participants will hear the story of Goode, who is an elderly woman that was hanged as a witch. The audience will then have to figure out if Goode was a witch, or wrongfully accused. Goode will be dressed as a woman from 1692, in what the museum calls a live history event.

The cost of admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members of the museum. The museum told Patch this is the first event of its' kind in their facility.

The museum said that their last program was in March and they are hoping to get their programs going again and have many scheduled for the next couple of months.

Social distancing will be required, as well as masks. The museum said the number of seats are limited due to COVID-19.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Village Hall, Orland Sports Plex, online and at the door the day of the event. For further questions, call the museum at 708-873-1622.