Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and global stories.
Photo: NPS Photo / Robert Grant
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
- LocationSalem, MA
- Entrance No fee listed
- HoursOpen 24 hours, daily
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Weather now75°F Overcast
- Alerts No active alerts
Overview
Topics
- African American Heritage
- American Revolution
- Ancient Seas
- Animals
- Architecture and Building
- Armories
- Arts
- Climate Change
15 more topics
- Commerce
- Conservation Movement
- Enslavement
- Immigration
- Lighthouses
- Maritime
- Maritime - Military
- Military
- Oceans
- Piracy and Privateering
- Poetry and Literature
- Ships and Shipwrecks
- Social Movements
- Trade
- Transportation
Things to Do
6 experiences from the National Park Service. Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
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Become a Salem Maritime B.A.R.K. Ranger
Hello four-legged friends! Do you want to explore Salem Maritime with your leash-holding companions? Interested in getting your very own B.A.R.K. Ranger dog tag? We made it easy for your human to…
Learn more about Become a Salem Maritime B.A.R.K. Ranger on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Become a Salem Maritime Junior Ranger
The Salem Maritime National Historic Site Junior Ranger program is an activity based program offering visitors the opportunity to join the National Park Service "family" as Junior Rangers.
Learn more about Become a Salem Maritime Junior Ranger on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Create a Dominican Faceless Doll
Have you ever heard of Faceless Dolls (or Muñecas Sin Rostro)? Faceless Dolls were first created in the 1980’s by sculptor Liliana Mera Limé. Their lack of faces is what makes them a truly unique…
Learn more about Create a Dominican Faceless Doll on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Drive the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway
Discover 90 miles of New England coastal life passing through Essex National Heritage Area and Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
Learn more about Drive the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Shop Waite & Peirce Souvenirs
Waite & Peirce: Authentic and Exotic Goods features gifts inspired by the bold spirit of Salem’s privateers and offers visitors a unique shopping experience.
Learn more about Shop Waite & Peirce Souvenirs on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab) -
Watch the Sunrise from Derby Wharf
Enjoy an East Coast sunrise from Derby Wharf! The horizon is broad and flat, providing an expansive view of Salem Harbor.
Learn more about Watch the Sunrise from Derby Wharf on NPS.gov (opens in a new tab)
Showing 6 of 6
All 9 activities in the park
Pick one to find other parks that offer it.
Facilities & Services
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Centers
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Salem Armory
Visitor Center
In the Salem Armory Visitor Center, National Park Service staff and volunteers provide information on historic sites and other places of interest throughout the Essex…
2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA (978) 740-1650 Directions
Details
In the Salem Armory Visitor Center, National Park Service staff and volunteers provide information on historic sites and other places of interest throughout the Essex National Heritage Area (ENHA). Visitors can learn more about Essex County from the exhibits. A free orientation film is played at 10:15 AM, 12 PM, & 2 PM, and the ENHA film "Salem Witch Hunt" is played at 11 AM, 1 PM, & 3 PM (ticket required). Books and gifts are available for purchase in the Salem Maritime National Historical Park store. -
Waite & Peirce
Visitor Center
Waite & Peirce offers a curated selection of quality products that will help extend your park experience with maritime themed goods that hearken back to Salem's place in…
193 Derby St, Salem, MA (978) 744-4319 Directions
Details
Waite & Peirce offers a curated selection of quality products that will help extend your park experience with maritime themed goods that hearken back to Salem's place in the history of global trade. Explore the exclusive line of Waite & Peirce apparel, jewelry, home goods, historical reproductions, collectibles, toys and gifts.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Open 24 hours, daily · Park Grounds
Hours details
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Park GroundsOpen 24 hours, daily
All outdoor spaces including the grounds, gardens, waterfront, and wharves are accessible 7 days a week. Please check the Visitor Center hours to learn more about which facilities are open.
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Address
Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty StreetSalem, MA 01970
Contact the park
Weather & conditions
75°F
Overcast · feels like 70°
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Today
76° 63°
Overcast57% rain
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Tomorrow
70° 56°
Sunny4% rain -
Sunday
62° 51°
Overcast15% rain
Updated 5 hr ago
WeatherSmall Craft Advisory Details
Small Craft Advisory issued October 2 at 11:38AM EDT until October 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
* WHAT...Southwest winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt near
shore. Seas 2 to 3 feet.
* WHERE...Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay.
* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
What to expect by season
New England weather is unpredictable year-round. Monthly averages, in degrees Fahrenheit, are: January: 37 high, 20 low February: 40 high, 23 low March: 47 high, 30 low April: 57 high, 38 low May: 67 high, 48 low June: 76 high, 58 low July: 82 high, 63 low August: 80 high, 62 low September: 73 high, 55 low October: 62 high, 45 low November: 52 high, 37 low December: 42 high, 27 low
Upcoming Events
1 coming up-
"To the Farthest Ports of the Rich East" Lecture
About
Join James Fichter as he discusses profit and peril in the new trade to Asia
With independence from Britain secured, in the 1780s American began trading to Asia for themselves. They bought tea in China. They sailed to the East India Company-administered India for cloth, to Yemen and Dutch Java for coffee, to Sumatra for pepper, and to many other ports in between. The trade to Asia accelerated as the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) kept European traders out of Asian waters, creating a tussle between between British and American crews to supply French-occupied Europe with Asian goods. This process created a new class of American investor-capitalists and the first American millionaires. Yet such wealth came at a cost, as the ever growing and increasingly wealthy American trading fleet was a tempting target for foreign states and pirates—from Britain and France to Barbary and Yemen—against which the U.S. Navy was not always a match.
While admission is free space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.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.
Photos
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Built in 1762 as a wedding present, the Derby House was the home of Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1799) and Elizabeth Crowninshield Derby (1727-1799) for the first twenty years of their marriage. — NPS Photo -
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Getting There
Salem, MA 01970
Salem Maritime National Historical Park is located in downtown Salem, Massachusetts and is accessible by vehicle, commuter rail, bus, ferry, and recreational boat.
Mailing address: 160 Derby Street, Salem, MA 01970
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