Behind the Ropes Mansion, at 318 Essex St., is one of the more beautiful and well maintained gardens in Salem.
The garden is open to the public free of charge.
Ropes Mansion dates back to the 1720s. Built by merchant Samuel Barnard, it was purchased by Judge Nathaniel Ropes II in 1768.
The Ropes family went into exile during the Revolutionary War, but returned to reclaim their home when the war ended. In 1907, the family converted it to the Ropes Memorial. Tod… (View original article)