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Salem Maritime National Historic SiteIn this 1797 engraving, two men are lightering, or transporting cargo from a schooner to shore in a rowboat. NPS collections.
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Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Plan Your Visit
 
An ebony, ivory and brass sextant used for navigation.
NPS photo
Before GPS, navigation was done by hand with tools like this sextant. 
From the creak of Friendship's rigging as she gently rolls in a gust of wind to the scent of spices wafting out of the West India Goods Store, Salem Maritime NHS recreates the Golden Age of Salem. For a few exciting years when the country was young, Salem was one of the most important ports in the United States. On our tours, in our special programs, and through our Junior Ranger program, you can walk in the footsteps of Elias Hasket Derby, America's first millionaire; Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of America's great authors; or one of the thousands of sailors who left from Salem for adventures at sea and in ports around the world.
 

Please allow at least three hours to visit our site. During the fall, winter, and spring, Salem Maritime offers two different hour-long tours of the site, guided by one of our rangers. In addition, we have several self-guided exhibits, and a free eighteen minute long orientation film.

During the summer, Friendship is self-guided and staffed by rangers and volunteers, and hour-long ranger guided tours are offered of our historic buildings.

For more information on our tours and hours, click here.

detail of the Salem Maritime publication The Salem Armory
Download the latest Salem Maritime brochures
Self-guided walking tours of Salem and info about the site
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A reproduction of a seventeenth century chest on exhibit at the Regional Visitor Center
On exhibit at the Regional Visitor Center
find out about our permanent and rotating exhibits in the Regional Visitor Center
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Portrait of Nathaniel Hawthorne, circa 1855.  

Did You Know?
In addition to being a world-famous author, Salem native Nathaniel Hawthorne also held three government positions: Measurer for the Port of Boston, Surveyor of the Port of Salem, and U.S. Consul to Liverpool. The Custom House in Salem where he worked is now part of Salem Maritime NHS.
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Last Updated: July 21, 2007 at 12:55 EST