On June 16, Essex Heritage kicked-off the summer season with guided boat tours to Bakers Island Light Station. From June 16 through September 3 (Labor Day), the landing craft Naumkeag will take passengers to explore the picturesque and historic Bakers Island Light Station. Upon landing, visitors can take a guided tour of the property, learn about its unique history, hike newly cut trails, play croquet and bocce, have a picnic, or just relax and enjoy the view. Bakers Island Light Station is ONLY accessible to the public through these tours with Essex Heritage.
NEW for this season are Harbor Lights & Sights Tours, a brand new slate of seafaring experiences. From June 22 through August 31, these one-hour and fifteen minute excursions will provide passengers with narrated tours of Salem Harbor and beyond. Discover the wonders of coastal Essex County, from lighthouses to military fortifications, historic houses to grand estates. The sights of Salem Sound tell a fascinating story of communities shaped by the sea.
“We are thrilled to launch the fourth season of tours to Bakers Island and welcome our new volunteer light keepers, Tara and Brian” said Annie C. Harris, Essex Heritage CEO. “This is a particularly exciting year as we are expanding our programming to include Heritage Harbor Tours, showcasing five historic lighthouses and the scenic landscape of coastal Essex County. We will also be continuing to offer special tours throughout the season that focus on wild edibles, bird-watching, lighthouses, and more.”
Regular trips to Bakers Island Light Station are at 10:30 AM on Friday, 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sundayfrom the dock adjacent to the Salem Ferry Landing at 10 Blaney Street, just past The House of the Seven Gables. Free parking is available next to the dock. Heritage Harbor Tours depart on Friday afternoons at 2:00 PM from Central Wharf, located at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, 193 Derby Street, behind Waite & Peirce.
Naumkeag is a large, open landing craft with a bow front that drops down so passengers can walk directly onto the stone beach (not landing at a dock). No private landings are allowed on the site at Bakers Island.
Don’t miss the boat! Tickets are available for purchase online at www.EssexHeritage.org/boat, www.EssexHeritage.org/heritage-harbor-tours and at the National Park Service’s Regional Visitor Center (2 New Liberty St, Salem).
