The Salem Maritime National Historic Site is a National Historic Site consisting of 12 historic structures, one replica tall-ship, and about 9 acres (36,000 m2) of land along the waterfront of Salem Harbor in Salem, Massachusetts, United States. Salem Maritime is the first National Historic Site established in the United States (March 17, 1938).[1] It interprets the Triangle Trade during the colonial period, in cotton, rum, sugar and slaves; the actions of privateers during the American Revolution; and global maritime trade with the Far East, after independence. The National Park Service manages both the National Historic Site and a Regional Visitor Center in downtown Salem. The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site | |
Location | Essex County, Massachusetts, US |
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Nearest city | Salem, Massachusetts |
Coordinates | 42°31′14″N 70°53′14″W / 42.52056°N 70.88722°W |
Area | 9 acres (0.036 km2) |
Visitation | 676,216 (2005) |
Website | Salem Maritime National Historic Site |
NRHP reference No. | 66000048 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | September 1, 1976 |
Designated NHS | March 17, 1938 |
In 2014, the National Park Service, which runs the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, released figures and statistics for 2012: there were 756,038 visitors to Salem who spent an estimated $40,000,000.[2] The National Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016.[3][4][5]
The site preserves and interprets numerous maritime resources in the form of artifacts, collections and structures, including:
By 1836, Charles Dexter had a shop in this building. It was one of many that served Salem households by selling candles, oils, clothing, tin, and glassware. Besides stocking general groceries such as grain, cheese, dried beans and rum, the store attracted customers with many foreign imported goods and luxuries from Europe, Asia and Africa. The store continued to operate as a retail space throughout the nineteenth century. Later occupants included painters, a tobacconist, and a wine and liquor merchant.
A short walk from the Salem Maritime National Historic Site are the Chestnut Street District, Federal Street District, Downtown Salem District, Bridge Street Neck Historic District, Charter Street Historic District, Crombie Street District, Derby Waterfront District, Essex Institute Historic District, Salem Willows Historic District and the Salem Common Historic District.