About By Lantern Tours
Walk With Someone Who Knows the Way

The best way to understand a town is to explore it with someone who knows it well — not just the dates and buildings, but the stories that give them meaning. That perspective is what shapes every experience we offer.

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By Lantern Tours is a family-run walking tour company founded by Andy and Marybeth Maercklein — long-time North Shore residents with a deep appreciation for local history, storytelling, and the coastal towns of Marblehead and Salem.

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After decades living, working, and raising a family here — and restoring a 1720 Colonial home in Old Town Marblehead — we created By Lantern Tours to share the stories, places, and people that have shaped these communities over centuries.

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Our tours are intentionally small and grounded in real history. We focus on the human stories behind the streets, burial grounds, harbors, and historic homes — offering a more personal alternative to large, theatrical tours. Each walk is designed to feel personal, engaging, and rooted in place.

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When we’re not guiding, you’ll likely find us walking Old Town with our black lab, Oliver, spending time near the water, or enjoying the changing seasons in town.