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Salem Maritime National Historic SiteNPS volunteers and staff furl the mizzen topsail on <i>Friendship</i>. NPS photo.
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"To the Farthest Ports of the Rich East"

Salem Massachusetts was once one of the most important ports in the nation. The historic buildings, wharves, and reconstructed tall ship at Salem Maritime tell the stories of the sailors, Revolutionary War Privateers, and merchants who brought the riches of the Far East to America.

 
The U. S. Custom House at Salem Maritime is a magnificent Federal style building

Downloadable Audio Tour of Salem Maritime Now Available

An audio tour of Salem Maritime National Historic Site is now available for downloading to your computer or personal media player!
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Detail of the cover for The McIntire Historic District Architectural Walking Tour

New Self Guided Walking Tours and Guides Available

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Salem architect and carver Samuel McIntire, the National Park Service, Historic New England, and the Peabody Essex Museum have released a newly revised edition of the McIntire Historic District Architectural Walking Trail. The new guide to historic architecture in Salem, Architecture in Salem: A Guide to Four Centuries of Design has also been released. Copies of these guides are available from the NPS Visitor Center in Salem, or can be downloaded here.
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On Exhibit at the Regional Visitor Center

Explore the history of Salem and Essex County in the exhibits at the Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street in Salem
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an ebony, ivory, and brass quadrant, used for navigation in the 18th century

Collection Spotlight

Like all National Parks and museums, Salem Maritime has some extraordinary objects in its collection.  Take some time to look at a few of these objects in detail!
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Write to

Salem Maritime National Historic Site
160 Derby Street
Salem, MA 01970

E-mail Us

Phone

Visitor Information: Regional Visitor Center
(978) 740-1650

Visitor Information: Salem Maritime National Historic Site
(978) 740-1660

Fax

(978) 740-1685

Climate

New England weather can range from hot and sticky on humid summer days to frigid and snowy in winter. Dressing in layers is advisable, as the temperature can drop significantly from day to night, even in the summer, and ocean breezes can be chilly.
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The octant is a navigational tool based on the curve of one eighth of a circle. It measures angles for solar and celestial navigation.  

Did You Know?
In 1799, Salem native Nathaniel Bowditch revised John H. Moore's New Practical Navigator, the standard navigation manual of the 18th century. Bowditch discovered and corrected over 8,000 errors in Moore's manual! In 1802, Bowditch published the New American Practical Navigator.

Last Updated: July 16, 2008 at 12:32 EST