RT Salem Maritime National Historic Site

First National Historic Site established in the United States consisting of 12 historic structures, one replica tall-ship, and land along the waterfront of Salem Harbor

General Information

Hours:

Visitor center and historic buildings are generally open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seasonally; grounds are accessible year-round.

Fees:

Grounds are free to explore. Admission may be charged for select historic buildings and the replica tall ship.

Pet Policy:

Pets are allowed on outdoor grounds only; they are not permitted inside historic structures.

Closest cities with hotels:

Salem, MA

Seasons:

Best spring through fall for full historic site access.

Salem, MA Weather Forecast

How to Get There

From downtown Salem, MA, head east on Liberty Street toward the waterfront. The Salem Maritime National Historic Site is located along Derby Wharf and the Salem harborfront.

Overview

Salem Maritime National Historic Site was the first National Historic Site in the U.S. (1938). It preserves 12 historic structures, a replica tall ship, and Salem Harbor waterfront land, telling the story of Salem's global trade and privateering from the colonial era through the 19th century.

Highlights

Derby House (1762): a Georgian home built by Captain Richard Derby, the New World's first millionaire
Derby Wharf: Salem's longest wharf (almost half a mile), with the 1871 Derby Wharf Light at the end
Friendship of Salem: a 2000 replica of a 1797 East Indiaman
Custom House (1819): where Nathaniel Hawthorne worked and wrote of the eagle above the door in The Scarlet Letter
Hawkes House, Narbonne House (1675), West India Goods Store, and Pedrick Store House: houses and warehouses of Salem merchants

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Salem Maritime National Historic Site", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0