Salem Maritime National Historic Site to Waive Tour Fees on Three Summer Weekends

Date: June 17, 2009
Contact: Emily Murphy, 978-740-1691

Salem Maritime National Historic Site will be waiving its tour fees for three weekends this summer, in accordance with the National Park Service’s decision to waive entrance fees to the 147 national parks that charge an entrance fee. “Many Americans are facing tough economic challenges right now,” said Patricia Trap, Superintendent of Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. “There has never been a charge to enter the National Park Service property in Salem, but I wanted to open our historic buildings to families who otherwise might not take a guided tour of Salem Maritime with one of our wonderful Park Rangers.”

The three fee free weekends are:

• June 20-21, so that Americans will have a chance to celebrate Father’s Day in the National Parks.
• July 18-19
• August 15-16

Tours of Salem Maritime start from the Orientation Center, 193 Derby Street. Tour size is limited, and tours will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you can’t visit during the fee free weekends, there are free activities every day of the week at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. On Derby Street, the historic wharves are open 24 hours a day and the grounds around the historic buildings, including the garden behind the Derby House and the Public Stores and Scale House exhibits are open from early morning until dusk. Free films on the history of Salem and Essex County are available at the Salem Visitor Center on 2 New Liberty Street, and the Salem Maritime NHS Orientation Center at 193 Derby Street. Free Junior Ranger programs are also available at the Orientation Center.

For more information, and a list of parks participating in the fee free weekends, please visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm. For more information on Salem Maritime NHS, visit www.nps.gov/sama.