National Register of Historic Places

Salem Maritime National Historic Site

Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000048

About this property

The Salem Maritime National Historical Park is a National Historical Park 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 was the first National Historic Site established in the United States (March 17, 1938), but was redesignated as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park on July 16, 2025. 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 Historical Park and a Regional Visitor Center in downtown Salem. The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States Department of the Interior. 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. The National Park Service celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016.

Location

Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts
42.52053, -70.88648

Categories

COMMERCETRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Salem Maritime National Historic Site

This page lists Salem Maritime National Historic Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

House of Seven Gables Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Derby Waterfront District
Listed
0.2 mi
Murray, William, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Joseph Fenno House-Woman's Friend Society
Industrial
0.2 mi
Salem Common Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Action at Hog Island
1775Revolutionary War
11.2 mi
Battle of Chelsea Creek (1775)
1775Revolutionary War
11.3 mi
Battle of Chelsea Creek
1775Revolutionary War
11.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Salem Maritime National Historic Site listed on the National Register?

Salem Maritime National Historic Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Salem Maritime National Historic Site?

Salem Maritime National Historic Site is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Salem Maritime National Historic Site?

The period of significance for Salem Maritime National Historic Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Salem Maritime National Historic Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Salem Maritime National Historic Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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