Salem ยท Downtown
The Merchant
Sea merchant Joshua Ward's 1785 Federal house, attributed to Samuel McIntire, where the hotel says George Washington stayed in 1789.
- Built
- 1785Joshua Ward House, built for sea merchant Joshua Ward; MACRIS SAL.2250 dates it 1785.
- Style
- Federal
- Architect
- Attributed to Samuel McIntire (Lark Hotels; MACRIS lists McIntire among designers)
- Type
- Boutique hotel
- Area
- Downtown
- Credentials
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places; Inside a National Register historic district
The story
Joshua Ward, a sea merchant and privateer after the Revolution, commissioned the Federal-style house; MACRIS dates it to 1785 and lists Samuel McIntire among its designers. The hotel says George Washington stayed here in 1789, and one room type is the George Washington King Deluxe. Lark Hotels runs it as The Merchant.
The ghost story
Lore holds that the 1784 Joshua Ward House stands on the site where witch-trials Sheriff George Corwin lived and kept his jail, and that his innocent victims still roam the building.
Source: northofboston.org
Good to know
- Parking: on-site paid
- Address: 148 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970
Things to do
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Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.