A three mast tall ship on the water under a blue sky with red brick buildings on the shore.
Park Waterfront & Vessel Friendship of Salem NPS Photo / Robert Grant

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

National Historic Site · Massachusetts · National Park Service

Originally established in 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the United States, Salem Maritime National Historical Park consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history and global stories.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
978-740-1650
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Architecture and Building · African American Heritage · American Revolution · Arts · Poetry and Literature · Commerce · Trade · Enslavement · Immigration · Maritime · Maritime - Military · Lighthouses · Piracy and Privateering · Ships and Shipwrecks · Military · Armories · Social Movements · Conservation Movement · Transportation · Ancient Seas · Animals · Climate Change · Oceans

Activities & features: Guided Tours · Self-Guided Tours - Walking · Self-Guided Tours - Auto · Junior Ranger Program · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store · Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Photos

  • A white rectangular lighthouse approximately 20 feet tall is near the water on a gravel road.
    NPS Photo
  • Three story red brick building with white windows and a brick pathway through grasses and trees.
    NPS Photo
  • A group of people walk in front of a large brick Custom House
    NPS

Nearby parks

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Guides for the trip

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12