Salem To Host Climate Conference Focused On Historic Buildings, Neighborhoods

SALEM, MA — Salem will host its sixth annual Preservation in a Changing Climate conference with a full day focused on how historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods can better withstand climate change.

The in-person event on Sept. 23 will be held at the Peabody Essex Museum Morse Auditorium and is being hosted by the City of Salem and the Preservation in a Changing Climate Committee.

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This year's conference will build on past events by focusing on mitigation and adaptation strategies that can help reduce climate change and boost the resiliency of historic resources.

The program is set to include case studies, conversations and panel presentations. Lori Ferriss, co-founder and executive director of Built Buildings Lab, is scheduled to deliver the keynote.

The conference comes as Salem and other North Shore communities face climate-related threats to historic properties and neighborhoods. Coastal and river flooding, wind damage, extreme precipitation, and rising heat and humidity will affect the future of historic resources in the region.

The conference will explore adaptation strategies, including what the city described as 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," 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. Dialogues like the Preservation in a Changing Climate conference help ensure that this can continue to be the case for future generations of Salem residents and community members."

Salem's Preservation in a Changing Climate Committee is hosted by the city's Planning and Community Development Department. The committee includes the Peabody Essex Museum, The House of the Seven Gables, Salem State University, Essex National Heritage, Historic New England, the Salem Maritime National Historical Park, and Historic Salem Inc.

The registration fee is $65 per person. A $10 student rate is available for the first 10 students who register, and the regular student rate is $30.

Tickets include education sessions, light refreshments, lunch provided by PEM, and a closing reception at the National Park Service Salem Armory Visitor Center.

More information and registration are available here.