Essex National Heritage Area

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Essex National Heritage Area

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Essex Heritage rallies our community around saving the unique character of Essex County.

10/30/2026

Can you guess which Essex National Heritage Area community is featured in these photos? Comment below! 📸

The Annual Essex Heritage Photo Contest encourages community members of all ages and skill levels to head outdoors and capture the living landscapes, unique places, and natural beauty of the Essex National Heritage Area. Now through December 18th, you can submit your entries for the following categories:

🖼 The Big Picture: Celebrating 30 Years of the Essex National Heritage Area
🌊 Coast, Cobblestone, and Countryside
🌲 Always in Season
🏆 Like Nowhere Else: Youth Category (Ages 5-17)

Each Photo Contest Friday, we will share photos taken in an Essex County city or town. From historical hints to iconic landmarks, we invite you all to guess where they were taken. We also hope these beautiful shots inspire you to capture what makes your community unique. 💙

Read more about the 2026 Essex Heritage Photo Contest here: https://essexheritage.org/programs/photo-contest/ (in our bio!)

10/30/2026

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿!

Your membership helps us connect people with the places, stories, and resources that make Essex County so special. Join or renew by October 31 to save 𝟮𝟬% on an Explorer or Voyager membership and enjoy some great member perks:

🏛️ 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

⚓ 𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲) 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

🌳 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 & 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀? 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲!

🥂 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳! 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟰 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀!

Interested? Learn more here: https://essexheritage.org/support/membership/

10/29/2026

How did a brand-new nation end up trading tea, pepper, and coffee halfway around the world? ☕

Our final installation in the “Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution" lecture series, this FREE event will feature historian James Fichter, author of "So Great a Proffit: How the East Indies Transformed Anglo-American Capitalism".

Join James Fichter as he traces how American merchants began sailing to Asia on their own terms. He’ll explore how the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars opened the door for American crews, how this trade created the nation’s first millionaires, and the dangers that came with that. British and French warships, Barbary corsairs, and pirates all targeted American ships, and the young U.S. Navy couldn’t always protect them.

Space is limited, so registration is strongly recommended. Register here: https://essexheritage.org/event/to-the-farthest-ports-of-the-rich-east-profit-and-peril-in-the-new-trade-to-asia/

📆 Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
🕘 Time: 6:30pm - 7:45pm
📍 Location: Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, Salem

A book signing will be available after the lecture. A limited number of "So Great a Proffit: How the East Indies Transformed Anglo-American Capitalism" will be available for purchase.

10/27/2026

This Wednesday, join Rabbi David Meyer at Abbot Library as he explores the often-overlooked role of Jews in the American Revolution.

His lecture "A Jewish Hero in Glover’s Marblehead Regiment," will share the remarkable story of Abraham Solomon of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment. He will reveal how Jewish patriots, through their early struggle for religious liberty and civic equality, helped shape a nation founded on freedom. This presentation invites the audience to reflect on how honoring the past can inspire pride, identity, and connection in the present.

Rabbi David J. Meyer is rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead. In his retirement he has enjoyed learning about and portraying the only known Jewish soldier in Colonel John Glover’s Revolutionary War Regiment (1775 - 1776).

📅 Wednesday, October 28, 2026
🕰 7:00pm
📍 Abbot Library, Marblehead
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If you have any suggestions for future features, or would like Essex Heritage to feature your organization’s Rev250 highlights, comment below or email us at [email protected].

MA250 America250 Marblehead Rev250

10/23/2026

Many thanks to The Rebecca Nurse Homestead for hosting a fantastic Heritage Friend Event last Thursday!🕯

In this special house and property tour, visitors experienced a beautiful fall evening by the glow of candlelight: the same way 17th-century Puritans did. Led by costumed tour guides, attendees had a look at daily life in the traditional saltbox home lived in by Rebecca Nurse's family and were guided around some of the 25-acre property. 🍂

Did you miss this event? Join us at our next Heritage Friend Event on December 10th at the Cape Ann Museum! 🎨

10/21/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽!

When you become a member, you're supporting our work to connect people with the places, stories, and resources that make the Essex National Heritage Area so special. Plus, you'll enjoy great benefits throughout the year.

Join or renew by October 31 to save on an Explorer or Voyager membership and enjoy some great member perks:

🏛️ 𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

⚓ 𝟮𝟬% 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀. 𝗩𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲) 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲!

🌳 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 & 𝗦𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀? 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲!

🥂 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳! 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟰 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗬𝗮𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘀!

Interested? Learn more here: https://essexheritage.org/support/membership/

📷: DJQ Media

10/20/2026

Did you attend a Trails & Sails event this year? We’d love to hear about your experience! By taking a few minutes to complete our survey, you'll help us make Trails & Sails even better for years to come. 💙💚

Three survey participants will also be entered for a chance to win a free Trails & Sails mug! 🤩

📝 Fill out our survey by October 31: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLFz9ng-zyMRbyIB-QSeMfKm2RiVhLfHW4w2SjFOGiqcV26A/viewform

10/20/2026

General John Glover, the Marblehead Revolutionary War hero best known for ferrying George Washington and 2,400 troops across the Delaware on Christmas night 1776, bought this 180-acre farm in 1781. He lived there from 1782 until his death in 1797. Today, the farmhouse is one of Essex County's most significant surviving links to the American Revolution.

In 2023, it was slated for demolition to make way for apartments. Nancy Schultz, then chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission, led a campaign that began with a nine-month demolition delay and long odds. That persistence paid off. Now, a new developer has committed to keeping the farmhouse intact, and Save the Glover Inc., founded in 2025, is making strong progress toward its $2 million renovation goal.

At our Fall Annual Meeting on October 8th, we were proud to honor Nancy and her dedicated group of Swampscott and Marblehead preservationists with a Pioneer in Partnership Award. Their grit and optimism are a reminder that historic places can be saved, even when the odds say otherwise.
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If you have any suggestions for future features, or would like Essex Heritage to feature your organization’s Rev250 highlights, comment below or email us at [email protected].

MA250 America250 Save the Glover

10/16/2026

Are you looking for a unique family-friendly activity in Salem? Then come sea-s the day with Essex Heritage and our friends from Real Pirates Salem for fun pirate storytelling! 🌊⚓

Listen to the shadowy history and folklore of Massachusetts' North Shore! From buried treasure and ghostly ships to legendary pirates like Black Sam Bellamy and Captain Kidd, this program brings the haunting legends and maritime mysteries of Salem, Gloucester, Ipswich, and beyond to life. 🏴‍☠️

These stories are grounded in history, shaped by folklore, and told with all the drama of the high seas — these are the stories passed down for generations along one of America's most storied coastlines.

🎟 Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eerie-stories-haunting-legends-of-the-north-shore-tickets-1994818413574?aff=erelexpmlt

10/13/2026

Thank you to all who joined us for our Fall Annual Meeting last Thursday hosted at The Historic New England Center in Haverhill! It was a wonderful morning networking with friends and colleagues, important regional updates, and well-deserved awards to Heritage Area champions.

Welcomes by elected officials were provided by Mayor Barrett, Representative Andy X. Vargas, Maria Syrniotis (Congresswoman Lori Trahan), Katie Morfill (Senator Edward J. Markey), and Laura Byman (U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren). Updates were provided on the Searles Estate in Methuen by Jack Wilson, the 25th Anniversary of Trails & Sails and Essex Heritages 30th Anniversary in 2027 by Annie Harris, as well as progress on the effort to save the Glover Farmhouse by Nancy Schultz.

New Commissioners voted in include:
Carissa Demore (Historic New England)
Dan Marshall (Marblehead Museum)
Emily Pearce (Gloucester Adventure, Inc, Schooner Adventure)
Anna Richards (Buttonwoods Museum)
Valerie Rosenberg (C***r Hill Farm)

Special Recognition Award went to Lauren McCormack, formerly of Marblehead Museum and current Executive Director at Freedom's Way National Heritage Area.

Pioneer in Partnership Awards went to Newburyport’s “Road to Revolution” (Custom House Maritime Museum and Museum of Old Newbury) and Save the Glover Farmhouse.

Congratulations to all and many thanks to Historic New England for hosting!

Address

10 Federal Street, Ste 12
Salem, MA
01970

Telephone

+19787400444

Website

http://bakersislandlight.org/, http://essexheritage.org/, https://coastalbyway.org/, https://trailsandsails.org/

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