The fictional town of Salem, Illinois is the setting for the U.S. soap opera Days of Our Lives. It is located in the Midwest United States, though the state was not mentioned until the episode which aired on May 23, 2013. When John is looking at the itinerary it states, "Salem, MN". It was built and named in 1802, since Salem celebrated its 200-year birthday in 2002. It was vaguely set in New England, until it was moved to somewhere in the Midwest in the 1970s. For many years the real Salem, Illinois held a Salem Days fest, which several members of the cast attended.