What Is Salem Maritime National Historical Park?
America’s first National Historic Site (redesignated a historical park on July 15, 2025), these 9 acres preserve and interpret over 400 years of New England’s maritime history!
What Makes It Historical?
Long before the witch trials, Salem was founded by fishermen in 1626 and was a major trading port through the 17th and 18th Centuries, even surpassing Boston! From Salem sailed the first American voyage to the East Indies for Sumatran pepper, and it was a main port of entry for Chinese tea and enslaved folks from Africa. The National Historic Site preserves 12 historic structures from this time period when Salem was the sixth largest city in the newly United States!
Those structures include the store house of Thomas Pedrick, moved here from Marblehead across the harbor! Mr. Pedrick stored the goods of his international trade here, even what his hired privateers had taken from British ships! Next to it is the reconstructed Friendship of Salem, which ran cargoes of pepper, silk, coffee, and more from at least six countries between May 28, 1797 and March 17, 1813, when it was captured by the British during the War of 1812 and sold at auction in London! This replica is based on a model on display at the Peabody Essex Museum!
Overseeing all of this trade was the Custom House. The first one was built in 1649 and collected import taxes first for the British government, then the new American government starting in 1789! The one preserved here today was built in 1819 to house the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, which included Salem-born Nathaniel Hawthorne from 1846 to 1849!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer at Salem Maritime National Historical Park!
- Donate to Salem Maritime National Historical Park!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
Waite & Peirce Store
- 193 Derby St
Salem, MA 01970
Salem Armory Visitor Center
- 2 New Liberty Street
Salem, MA 01970
When Should I Visit the Park?
Explore the grounds any time you like, but hours vary widely. You’re most likely to get access to all the park’s buildings by visiting between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday!
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