Salem Climate Conference To Focus On Protecting Historic Buildings, Neighborhoods

ThePeabody Essex Museum event will center on strategies to help historic places adapt to a changing and more volatile coastline.

By Scott Souza, Patch Staff

May 26, 2026 10:22 am EDT

Salem's Derby Wharf is one area of the North Shore identified as being susceptible to climate change and the increasing chance of flooding and destruction. (City of Salem)

SALEM, MA — The sixth annual Preservation in a Changing Climate conference, a one-day event focused on climate impacts on the region's historic resources, returns to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem this fall.

The Sept. 23 conference will take place at the PEM's Morse Auditorium.

This year's event will focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies aimed at reducing climate change impacts and improving the resilience of historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.

The program will include case studies, conversations and panel presentations.

Lori Ferriss, co-founder and executive director of Built Buildings Lab, will deliver the keynote address.

The North Shore, including Salem and nearby communities, is already seeing damage to historic properties and neighborhoods from coastal and riverine flooding, wind damage, extreme precipitation, and rising heat and humidity.

Preservationists, environmentalists, engineers, planners, legislators, insurers, historic building owners and other decision-makers will be tasked with identifying and implementing adaptation strategies to make historic buildings and neighborhoods more resilient and sustainable.

The conference will examine those strategies, including nontraditional solutions and experimental approaches.

"I'm so grateful to Salem's Preservation Partners for once again organizing our annual Preservation in a Changing Climate conference," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "Salem is forward-looking and proactive in managing the local impacts of climate change.

"As a historic community, we're especially thoughtful in planning and preparing for how these challenges impact our city. In Salem, we value our history not just because it’s our past, but also because it's the foundation for where we're going in our future."

Tickets are priced at $50 per person through Aug. 14 under an early bird rate, and $65 after that deadline.

A $10 student rate is available for the first 10 students who register, followed by a regular student rate of $30.

Registration includes educational sessions, light refreshments, lunch and the closing reception. More information and registration are available here.