Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Scurvy —a debilitating disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, was a scourge among sailors, with hundreds of thousands perishing during the colonial period, and during the American Revolutionary War it became a critical strategic factor that severely weakened the British Royal Navy and affected the health of the Continental Army.

Before the concept of vitamin deficiency was known to the world, physicians struggled to find what caused the disease. That did not stop them from developing both herbal and chemical treatments with mixed results. The story of finding a true cure spans the centuries, from ancient references to sailors’ superstitions to the birth of “clinical trials” in the 18th century.

Join Dan Marshall as he dives into both European and American colonial sources that shed light on the effects of scurvy on the body and the many colonial cures recorded for posterity. Afterwards, he will demonstrate the tools and techniques of turning simple ingredients into medicine in the 17th & 18th centuries.

Dan Marshall is a museum professional who has shared his love of history with the public for over 25 years. He has created and presented countless hands-on public history events, school tour programs, and lectures on a wide range of historical topics. With experience at Colonial Williamsburg, The House of the Seven Gables, Lexington Historical Society, and the City of Salem, Dan is currently serving as Vice President of the Salem Historical Society.

This program is presented in partnership with the National Park Service and Essex Heritage as part of a series; Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution. As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, this dynamic series brings together diverse voices and experts to examine the Revolution through its many perspectives, lived experiences, and lasting legacies.

Join us for a memorable evening of music, history, and conversation celebrating the life, military service, and lasting legacy of one of the American Revolution's most celebrated — and often overlooked — figures.

The evening kicks off with a rousing performance by Scurvy Fellows Indeed, a spirited crew of 18th-century privateers who will entertain with rollicking sea chanteys — audience sing-along strongly encouraged!

Historian Robert Booth then takes us through the compelling story of how John Glover's Marblehead roots and family ties shaped his path to becoming a Revolutionary War hero.

He is followed by Larry Sands — Captain of Glover's Marblehead Regiment — who brings Glover's battlefield career to life with a lively overview of his major engagements and accomplishments.

Nancy Lusignan Schultz, Chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission and President of Save the Glover! Inc., rounds out the presentations with the latest news on the ongoing effort to preserve General Glover's historic farmhouse.

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution.

As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, join us for Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution — a dynamic series of programs exploring the American Revolution — its many perspectives, lived experiences, and lasting legacies. This series brings together a range of voices and experts to examine the Revolution from multiple angles. Programs will take a variety of formats including lectures, panel discussions, living history presentations, and more.

Christopher Magra, Professor of History at the University of Tennessee, will present "The Fisherman’s Cause: Atlantic Commerce and Maritime Dimensions of the American Revolution." This lecture, based on his 2007 book by the same name, will explore the maritime roots of the Revolution.

Join Dr. Emily Murphy as she discusses Essex County’s Revolutionary War at Sea

We all learn about the land battles that began the American Revolution, but less is known about the merchants and mariners who risked their livelihoods and lives to take the battle to the British on the high seas. This lecture will explore the world of the privateersmen and navy sailors who supplied one of Essex County’s major contributions to the Revolutionary War effort. On the home front, we will examine how privateering changed the economy and daily life in North Shore port communities.

Emily Murphy is the Curator for Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, Annapolis, an MA in American Studies from Penn State, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Boston University. Dr. Murphy has been working in public history for over 30 years, including at the Maryland State Archives, the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, MD, Independence NHP, and the Peabody Essex Museum. Her major publications for the National Park Service include the walking tour guide Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Salem, and Merchants, Clerks, Citizens, and Soldiers: A History of the Second Corps of Cadets, for which she was awarded the Honorable Order of St. Barbara from the United States Field Artillery Association. Most recently, she contributed the chapter “’ The Family of Derby Has a Taste in This Way’; The homes of Elias Hasket and Elizabeth Derby” in the book A Material World: Culture, Society and the Life of Things in Early Anglo-America, edited by George Boudreau and Margaretta Lovell, and created an exhibit on Leslie's Retreat for the Salem Armory Visitor Center. She is currently working on a set of exhibits about privateering that will be installed at Salem Maritime in the summer of 2026.

Bring your beach blankets and folding chairs to enjoy live orchestra music on Derby Wharf at the Salem Maritime National Historical Park for a grand celebration of our nation’s 250th Independence Day. Featuring live music, family fun, and fireworks launched over Salem Harbor, this is a quintessential celebration of the 4th of July. A full schedule of events will be added in the future. Check back for additional information. This event is hosted by the City of Salem.

Join us on Saturday, August 1 at Salem Maritime National Historical Park on Derby Street for the Salem Heritage Days Parade and Festival celebrating both the 250th anniversary of America and the 400th anniversary of Salem. This event is free and open to the public.

The festivities begin with the return of the Heritage Days Parade, traveling from Salem State University’s O’Keefe Center to Salem Maritime National Historical Park. Following the parade, the fun continues with a festival along the waterfront. Cheer on your friends and neighbors at the annual Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta, step aboard the visiting tall ship Pride of Baltimore, try new food from local food trucks, and so much more!

10:00 AM – 11:30 PM: Salem Heritage Days Parade

11:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Salem Heritage Days Festival

• Pride of Baltimore II Open Ship
• Historical Demonstrations and Craftspeople
• Free Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals
• Food Trucks and Beer Garden
• Custom House and Public Stores Open

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM: Festival Opening Remarks

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: The Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta (races and award ceremony)

2:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Live Music 

10:00 AM - 11:30 PM

After more that thirty years, Salem’s beloved Heritage Days Parade returns for the city’s 400th and America’s 250th anniversaries. Organized as a timeline of Salem’s illustrious history, the parade will kick off from the O’Keefe Center at Salem State University, travel down Lafayette Street before turning on to Derby Street and finishing at Salem Maritime National Historical Park.  Spectators are encouraged to line the streets to enjoy this parade.

11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Step aboard the Pride of Baltimore II to expertise the reproduction tall ship.  Built in 1988, Pride II is a Baltimore Clipper topsail schooner. Free deck tours will be available during the festival.

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Join a variety of historical demonstrators on Central Wharf to experience cultural aspects of Salem’s history. Learn from canoe makers, lobstermen, dressmakers, and others as you explore unique demonstrations. Explore Colonial life leading up to the American Revolution with skilled artisans.

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Take a kayak or paddleboard ride out into Salem Harbor. Safety equipment and training will be provided.

11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Looking for a snack during all the fun? A dozen food trucks will be on site serving everything from Italian and Indian foods to seafood and desserts. A beer garden will also be availble throughout the festival.

11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. Built in 1819, the U.S. Custom House in Salem contains exhibits on the tools of the Custom Service, the work of the Customs inspectors, and the office of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the famous American author whose three-year-long stint in the Salem Custom House inspired his classic novel, The Scarlet Letter.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Join us for Salem's favorite cardboard-themed event! Taking place during the festival, local teams will race their homemade cardboard boats in Salem Harbor.  Spectators are encouraged to line Derby Wharf and watch the creativity and athleticism. Cardboard boats will be designed based around the American Revolution and other moments in Salem's history.

2:30 PM - 6:00 PM

What's a festival without live music? Local bands will be performing on an outdoor stage by Derby Street throughout the afternoon. Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket and listen to some great local artists.

Alexander Cain examines the untold stories of American Loyalist families driven from their homes, exiled, and forgotten by history.

This lecture, presented by historian Alexander Cain, examines the often-overlooked experiences of American Loyalists from New England, including those from Essex County, during the Revolutionary War. It examines how unwavering loyalty to the Crown led to the loss of homes, freedom, and security for numerous families. Drawing on original petitions and firsthand accounts, the presentation traces the harrowing flight of Loyalists from so-called "patriot" mobs and Committees of Safety. The discussion further explores the severe hardships endured by Loyalist families, including those from Salem, who sought refuge with the British army, facing starvation, violations of civil liberties, and exile. The lecture also highlights the resilience that enabled these individuals to persevere in the face of such adversity.

Alexander Cain, JD, has authored numerous research articles and presentations on the American Revolution, including the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, and the experiences of New England and New York loyalist refugees during the Burgoyne Campaign. In addition, he has published two books: We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War: The Loyalists of McAlpin’s Corps of American Volunteers. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast Historical Nerdery. Currently, he is in the process of writing his upcoming book, “For God’s Sake Fire!” - The Massachusetts Militia System on the Eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is anticipated to be released in 2027.

Alex is the Executive Director of Apprenticeship Pathways at North Shore Community College. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife, Paula, and they have two adult children, John and Abigail. The fact that they are named after John and Abigail Adams is purely a coincidence.