Friendship of Salem Volunteers

06/23/2026

“The state of our city’s cardboard boat racing is as strong as its future.”

Amazingly, in less than a week we have filled our muster of 40 participants for the fourth annual Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta. While registration to build and race a boat may now be closed, do not give up. Join us August 1st at 1:00 PM during the Salem Heritage Days Parade and Festival to cheer on these intrepid artists and engineers as we celebrate both their triumphant success and spectacular sinking failure. 400+ years of Salem’s history has all led to this…

Learn more at https://go.nps.gov/SalemHeritageDays

NPS Photo

06/23/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well!

We have a work session tonight. Luke will be here from 1800 - 2100 with lots of projects to work on.

Cassady will be here on Saturday June 27th from 0900 - 1500.

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Send a message to learn more

06/15/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a good weekend!

We will have our second go at getting the bowsprit in tomorrow and are in need of a couple folks who are available during the day to help with visitor interaction and perimeter/wake monitoring. The day will run from approx. 0730 - 1630. Depending on how many folks are available (and their schedules), we can do some split shifts, etc.

Please let me know ASAP if you can help!

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Send a message to learn more

06/13/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you have all had a good week. We have been EXCEPTIONALLY busy! As you have all likely heard by now, we have been in the final push to get the bowsprit in this week. Today we were able to get it in and even with a new deck, new h-bitts, new deck beams, new knightheads and a lot of new heel the fit was OH SO CLOSE. It was really impressive actually. We have a small sliver of fir to add and then will be trying again. Scroll down past the signature to see a picture of the bowsprit being swung aboard. As such, there will be no work session this Saturday (June 13th), so that everyone get rested up.

Tentatively, we will have work sessions on all of the remaining Tuesdays and Saturdays this month, except Saturday June 20th and Tuesday June 16th. I will let you know as soon as possible if that changes.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

06/11/2026

Derby Wharf will be closed to the public on Friday, June 12 while crane operations are underway to begin installation of the bowsprit on the tall ship "Friendship of Salem". The wharf will reopen in the afternoon when crane operations are complete and the area is safe. Please follow all safety guidance from National Park Service staff and volunteers. We appreciate your understanding.


NPS Image - Crane work on the "Friendship of Salem" in 2020.

06/05/2026

Hi Everyone,

Very quick note to let you know that there is a work session tomorrow. Luke will be here 0900 -1500 with lots of projects for you.

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Send a message to learn more

05/29/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you're all doing well.

Just a quick reminder that we have a work session tomorrow, 0900 - 1500. It'll be rainy but Cassady will be there with lots of projects for everyone!

Thanks,

Captain Tanya
Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Send a message to learn more

05/23/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. Just a quick note to remind you that there is NOT a work session tomorrow, Saturday May 23rd, but we'll see folks Tuesday night. I'll send the June schedule next week (along with an update), but here's what's left for May:

Saturday, 5/23, 0900 - 1500: NO WORK SESSION

Tuesday, 5/26, 1800 - 2100: Work session with TBD

Saturday, 5/30, 0900 - 1500: Work session with Cassady

* Please feel free to come, even if you can't stay for the whole work session or get there right when we start.

PLUS, Ongoing opportunity: Call/email/text me to sign up for a daytime work session on any Monday, Tuesday or Friday.

I hope everyone has a happy Memorial Day and a wonderful long weekend!

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

05/15/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all doing well! We've been busy, busy, busy here - getting rigging organized and some of it overhauled/replaced; sanding, scraping, priming of spars and all their associated bits; and working on spar repairs. The big news is that the bowsprit scarph has been glued! Lots of hard work has gone into getting this done and it looks great - scroll pass the signature to see a picture.

Meanwhile, James and company have been making lots of progress with building out our new mahogany knightheads.

Lots of great progress, all around.

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Upcoming work sessions as follows:

The upcoming work session schedule is as follows:
Saturday, 5/16, 0900 - 1500: Work session with Luke

Tuesday, 5/19, 1800 - 2100: Work session with John M

Saturday, 5/23, 0900 - 1500: NO WORK SESSION - HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

* Please feel free to come, even if you can't stay for the whole work session or get there right when we start.

PLUS Ongoing opportunity: Call/email/text me to sign up for a daytime work session on any Monday, Tuesday or Friday in March.

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..

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

05/05/2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope you're enjoying this beautiful weather! The full May work session schedule will be following in short order, but...there IS A WORK SESSION TONIGHT Tuesday May 5th. I will be there 1800 - 2100 with plenty of work to go around.

Look forward to seeing you all tonight!

Thanks,

Captain Tanya

Ship Operations Supervisor/Captain, Friendship of Salem
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site