The Essex National Heritage Area

Almost since the founding of the Salem Partnership, there has been a very strong link with the National Park Service and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Early on, the Partnership saw the potential of this important historical park and determined that the Park Service should play a much larger role in the culture and economy of the city. Between 1990-2000, the Salem Maritime National Historic Site underwent an amazing transformation, and the Partnership was involved at every stage. The Partnership assisted in the expansion of the park boundaries, development of the Salem Regional Visitor Center, restoration of the historic Derby and Central Wharves, and building the replica tall ship Friendship. Today the Salem Maritime National Historic Site provides the best Colonial Era maritime experience in the park system.

One of the most remarkable on-going projects to emerge from this relationship was the Essex National Heritage Area. Conceived as a park-beyond-park-boundaries, the Essex National Heritage Area covers 500 square miles, 34 communities and thousands of heritage resources. It is a ‘partnership park’ – an alliance between local organizations, business leaders, residents and the National Park Service. Its purpose is preserve and enhance the historic, natural and cultural resources of Essex County (est. 1634) for the benefit of all who live, work and visit the area. Started under the auspices of the Salem Partnership and with the leadership of Thomas M. Leonard and Annie C. Harris, the Essex National Heritage Area was officially designated a National Heritage Area by U.S. Congress in 1996, formed its own management corporation in 1997, and became a fully independent operation by 2000.

Today, the Essex National Heritage Area and the affiliated Essex National Heritage Commission oversee projects that improve the region’s historic structures, scenic roadways, maritime resources, and archival materials. From the historic seaport of Salem to the Merrimack River Valley and stretching along the Massachusetts coast to New Hampshire, the Essex National Heritage Area highlights the nationally significant sites and diverse cultures of its residents, past and present. The stories of the first European immigrants in the 17th century, the rise of the international maritime trade in the 18th century, and the leather and textile shoe entrepreneurs who started the industrial revolution of the 19th century can all be discovered within the region. The Essex National Heritage Area preserves and illuminates more than 400 years of our Nation’s history. To see all that the Essex National Heritage Area has to offer go to www.essexheritage.org.