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Salem Maritime
National Historic Site
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Salem Maritime, the first National Historic Site in the National Park System, was established to preserve and interpret the maritime history of New England and the United States. The Site consists of about nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the waterfront in Salem, Massachusetts, as well as a Visitor Center in downtown Salem. The Site documents the development of the Atlantic triangular trade during the colonial period, the role of privateering during the Revolutionary War, and the international maritime trade, especially with the Far East, which established American economic independence after the Revolution. The Site is also the focal point of the Essex National Heritage Area, designated in 1996, which links thousands of historic places in Essex County around three primary historic themes: colonial settlement, maritime trade, and early industrialization in the textile and shoe industries.

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VISITATION:
Peak season: July, August and October
Lowest: January and February.
LOCATION:
Salem, Massachusetts
ADDRESS:
Superintendent
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
174 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970
TELEPHONES:
Notice the change in area code:
Visitor Information (Daily, 9-5):
(978)740-1650
(978)740-1655 FAX
OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:
Daily, 9am to 5pm; closed January 1, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25.
CLIMATE AND RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:
Temperatures can range from hot and sticky on humid summer days to frigid in winter. One can get by with comfortable seasonal wear; however a sturdy pair of walking shoes is advised.
DIRECTIONS:
Salem is about 15 miles north of Boston along the Atlantic Coast. It can be reached by commuter rail and bus from Boston. By highway, take route 128 North to Route 114 East to Salem. From Boston's Logan Airport, follow Route 1A North to Salem.
TRANSPORTATION:
To the Park: Salem is served by the Rockport/Ipswich Commuter Line from Boston's North Station, about a 30-minute ride. Buses #455 and #450 go from the Haymarket section of Boston to the Salem rail depot. (Haymarket is on the Green and Orange Lines of the Boston subway system.) Follow signs for the short walk to the Visitor Center.

At the Park: Salem, like many New England towns is a walking city. The Visitor center and the site are a short walk from each other. The City of Salem has a few commercial parking lots in downtown, close to the Visitor center. There are commercial transportation companies within Salem, including trolleys, pedicabs and horsedrawn carriages.

FEES, COSTS, RATES:
No entrance fee. Program fees are charged for the ranger-led tours of the historic structures on site.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
 
Visitor Center/Exhibits/Collections:
Salem Maritime operates a major regional Visitor Center in downtown Salem, which provides information on Salem and the Essex National Heritage Area. Throughout the day, the NPS screens the award winning free film "Where Past is Present", a 27 minute overview of 400 years of history in Essex County. At the waterfront, the Site's Orientation Center has a free film on Salem's maritime history, "To the Farthest Port of the Rich East". Scheduled tours (fee) of the Site's buildings leave from the Orientation Center. The waterfront site includes three wharves, the U.S. Custom House complex, the Derby House, the Narbonne House, and the West India Goods Store.

Restrooms are located at the Visitor Center and Orientation Center.

Eastern National Bookstores operates shops selling books and other materials at the Visitor Center and Orientation Center and the West India Goods Store.

Lodging /Camping:
No NPS facilities. There are hotels, motels and B&B's in Salem and the surrounding towns of Peabody, Danvers and Beverly. Private and state-run camping and RV facilities are open seasonally in the outlying areas.
Food Supplies:
There are many restaurants within walking distance of both the Visitor Center and the Site.
Accessibility:
The Visitor Center, the waterfront Orientation Center, and restrooms at both locations are accessible. The historic wharf area is accessible; the historic houses at the site have limited accessibility.
Special Needs:
The film "Where Past is Present", at the Visitor center, has captions and audio descriptions. The film "To the Farthest Port of the Rich East" at the waterfront Orientation Center, has captions as well as audio translations in German, French and Spanish. An interactive program at the Orientation Center provides a visual tour of the Site.

Designated handicap parking spaces are located at the various commercial parking lots close to the Visitor Center. Handicap parking is limited, but available at the Orientation Center.

There is designated bus parking throughout the city, some in the vicinity of the Visitor Center. There is a bus drop-off but no waiting at the Visitor Center and Orientation Center.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE
Seeing the films in the Visitor Center and Orientation Center; joining ranger-led tours of historic structures; walk the half-mile length of Derby Wharf into Salem Harbor; visiting the 18th century garden. Visiting neighboring attractions, such as the House of the Seven Gables and the Peabody Essex Museum. Walking through historic neighborhoods, such as the McIntire District, Salem Common, and the Derby Waterfront District. Driving the Early Settlement Trail, the Maritime Trail, and the Industrial Trail to other sites in Essex County.
RESERVATION/PERMITS:
Reservation are required educational programs for school and other educational groups. Reservations are required for group tours.Reservations are suggested for large groups for the two films. The Visitor Center has a seating capacity of 200; the Orientation Center has a seating capacity of 45. Permits are required for special park uses and commercial filming. Docking is not permitted at the historic wharves except by special permit.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Allow at least a full day to see Salem. Plan an additional two or three days to see the historic and cultural attractions of the rest of Essex County. If recreation is planned, such as visits to the area's beaches, plan addition time.
SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
Salem Maritime eagerly awaits the arrival of the vessel Friendship. Friendship is a reconstruction of a 18th century merchant sailing vessel which will be further outfitted at the park and berthed permanently at the Site's on Derby wharf.


Salem Maritime's Visiting Tall Ships brings a variety of historic vessels, such as the HMS ROSE pictured here last summer, to the site for public viewing and boarding at various times during the year.

The annual Salem Maritime Festival, a celebration of maritime history, music and crafts will be held on July 10, 1999.

The city of Salem and it institutions and museums hosts a variety of special events and programs throughout the year.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
Salem and Essex County have a large number of historic and cultural attractions. For further information, call (978) 740-1650 or check the Essex National Heritage Area web page.

Nearby NPS sites include:

VISITOR IMPACTS
Site may be closed during declared snow or storm emergencies
Last Updated: Friday, 12-June-1999 12:05:00 EST
http://www.nps.gov/sama/index.htm