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.

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.

Bird's eye view of the park

Salem Maritime National Historical Park

In the 1600's, on the banks of the Saugus River, something extraordinary
happened! Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special
skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre
National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a
historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.

In the 1600's, on the banks of the Saugus River, something extraordinary happened! Explore the place where European iron makers brought their special skills to a young Massachusetts colony. Saugus Iron Works is a twelve-acre National Historic Site that includes working waterwheels, forges, mills, a historic 17th century home, and a lush river basin.

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

The Essex National Heritage Area begins just 10 miles north of Boston and
covers 500 square miles of eastern Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border.
The Area includes hundreds of historical sites, miles of intact landscapes,
glistening coastal regions and lifetimes of rich experiences that chronicle
the history of our region and of our nation.

The Essex National Heritage Area begins just 10 miles north of Boston and covers 500 square miles of eastern Massachusetts to the New Hampshire border. The Area includes hundreds of historical sites, miles of intact landscapes, glistening coastal regions and lifetimes of rich experiences that chronicle the history of our region and of our nation.

Essex National Heritage Area

Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major
battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can
be extended to all.

Discover how one city could be the Cradle of Liberty, site of the first major battle of American Revolution, and home to many who espoused that freedom can be extended to all.

Boston National Historical Park

Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of
1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and
injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were
leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War,
and the early struggle for equal rights and education.

Centered on the north slope of Beacon Hill, the African American community of 1800s Boston led the city and the nation in the fight against slavery and injustice. These remarkable men and women, together with their allies, were leaders in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the early struggle for equal rights and education.

Boston African American National Historic Site

. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses,
explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while
fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth
programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are
coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor
Islands Partnership.

. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site preserves a
remarkable Georgian house whose occupants shaped our nation. It was a site of
colonial enslavement and community activism, George Washington’s first long-
term headquarters of the American Revolution, and the place where Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his canon of 19th-century American literature.

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site preserves a remarkable Georgian house whose occupants shaped our nation. It was a site of colonial enslavement and community activism, George Washington’s first long-term headquarters of the American Revolution, and the place where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his canon of 19th-century American literature.

Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

JFK’s parents never expected that their second son would grow up to be
president. Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life
in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family’s first home
to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not
only his early life, but the ideas and principles he left behind.

JFK’s parents never expected that their second son would grow up to be president.  Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family’s first home to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not only his early life, but the ideas and principles he left behind.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Located just thirty miles north of Boston, Thacher Island NWR is home to
herring and great black-backed gulls. The refuge serves as a stopover site for
songbirds and other migrants to rest and feed during their seasonal migration.
Off-shore habitats are used by seals, waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants and
alcids.

The refuge was established in 1972 to provide feeding, resting and nesting
habitat for migratory birds, located approximately one mile off the coast of
Rockport, Massachusetts.

Thacher Island also has a rich cultural history, perhaps best symbolized by
the twin lighthouses that continue to grace its rocky landscape.

Located just thirty miles north of Boston, Thacher Island NWR is home to herring and great black-backed gulls. The refuge serves as a stopover site for songbirds and other migrants to rest and feed during their seasonal migration. Off-shore habitats are used by seals, waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants and alcids.

The refuge was established in 1972 to provide feeding, resting and nesting habitat for migratory birds, located approximately one mile off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts. 

Thacher Island also has a rich cultural history, perhaps best symbolized by the twin lighthouses that continue to grace its rocky landscape.

Thacher Island National Wildlife Refuge

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American
landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his
home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale
professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next
century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals,
philosophy, and influence.

Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903) is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. Olmsted moved his home to suburban Boston in 1883 and established the world's first full-scale professional office for the practice of landscape design. During the next century, his sons and successors perpetuated Olmsted's design ideals, philosophy, and influence.

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

The refuge was established in 1941, and today consists of more than 4,700
acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including sandy beach and dune,
maritime shrubs and forests, cranberry bogs, man-made impoundments, salt marsh
and associated creek, river, and mud flat. These refuge habitats support
varied and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife including
more than 300 species of birds and additional species of mammals, reptiles,
amphibians, insects, and plants. The refuge also provides critical habitat for
the federally threatened piping plover.

The refuge was established in 1941, and today consists of more than 4,700 acres of diverse upland and wetland habitats including sandy beach and dune, maritime shrubs and forests, cranberry bogs, man-made impoundments, salt marsh and associated creek, river, and mud flat. These refuge habitats support varied and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife including more than 300 species of birds and additional species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and plants. The refuge also provides critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover.