Push On For A National Park At Salem Maritime Site

SALEM, MA — A push is underway to make the Salem Maritime National Historic Site officially part of a New England National Park tour.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Salem) have introduced joint legislation they said will help raise the profile and increase visitation to the 9-acre stretch of coastline that has been the site of nearly 400 years of maritime history, Black activism and the fight for American independence.

Salem Maritime was established 84 years ago as the first National Historic Site in the National Park System, but the legislators said the change in designation will make it easier to obtain funding for the promotion and upkeep of the site. There are currently 59 other official National Historic Parks in New England.

"Increasing visitation to Salem Maritime is important to supporting Salem's tourism economy, especially since the historical themes of Salem Maritime encourage people to visit beyond just the month of October," Moulton said in a statement. "Salem's role in the military history of our nation is fascinating. From the first muster in 1636 to the significant role Salem and adjacent communities played in the American Revolution, there is a great deal of history that is not well known."

Markey added: "Redesignating Salem Maritime as a National Historical Park will reflect its place in our nation's history, preserve its many resources, and help bring more visitors in the future to learn from Salem's past. This will improve our cultural and historical understanding and bolster Massachusetts's tourism economy.

"By re-designating and supporting this park, we can support Black voices and tell Salem's full story."

Essex Heritage CEO Annie Harris said that National Parks typically experience a 20 to 25 percent increase in visitation, while Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said the designation could help the city obtain funding to improve Fort Pickering and Fort Lee ahead of Salem's 400th anniversary in 2026.

The bill would redraw the boundary of Salem Maritime to include the visitor center and would require a special resource study from the Secretary of the Interior.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)