“The Spirit of Privateering Prevails Here”: Essex County’s Revolutionary War at Sea
2026-06-11 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
We all learn about the land battles that began the American Revolution, but less is known about the merchants and mariners who risked their livelihoods and lives to take the battle to the British on the high seas. This lecture will explore the world of the privateersmen and navy sailors who supplied one of Essex County’s major contributions to the Revolutionary War effort. On the home front, we will examine how privateering changed the economy and daily life in North Shore port communities.
Emily Murphy is the Curator for Salem Maritime National Historical Park and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. She holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College, Annapolis, an MA in American Studies from Penn State, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Boston University. Dr. Murphy has been working in public history for over 30 years, including at the Maryland State Archives, the Hammond-Harwood House in Annapolis, MD, Independence NHP, and the Peabody Essex Museum. Her major publications for the National Park Service include the walking tour guide Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Salem, and Merchants, Clerks, Citizens, and Soldiers: A History of the Second Corps of Cadets, for which she was awarded the Honorable Order of St. Barbara from the United States Field Artillery Association. Most recently, she contributed the chapter “’ The Family of Derby Has a Taste in This Way’; The homes of Elias Hasket and Elizabeth Derby” in the book A Material World: Culture, Society and the Life of Things in Early Anglo-America, edited by George Boudreau and Margaretta Lovell, and created an exhibit on Leslie’s Retreat for the Salem Armory Visitor Center. She is currently working on a set of exhibits about privateering that will be installed at Salem Maritime in the summer of 2026.
Space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs.
Image Credit: Privateer battle by Tom Freeman, National Park Service Commissioned Art Collection.

Wild Edibles at Bakers Island with Russ Cohen
2026-06-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Bakers Island Light Station, Bakers Island, Salem, MA, 01944, United States
Join naturalist and wild foods enthusiast Russ Cohen on a special edible excursion at Bakers Island Light.

Explore Wild Edibles at Bakers Island Light Station
Come join naturalist and wild foods enthusiast, Russ Cohen on a special edible excursion out to Bakers Island Light Station, a historic property owned by Essex Heritage.
This 4-hour special trip includes the boat ride aboard Naumkeag and a walking tour of the property with expert Russ Cohen pointing out special species along the trails including the kind you can snack on! Before departing for the main land, enjoy sumac-ade (a natural alternative to Kool-Aid) and a wild goodie or two made by Russ Cohen himself! The wild edibles tour includes over 3 dozen species of edible wild plants that have existed on the island for some time. Also expect to encounter at least six of the additional native wild edible species that were planted last summer.
Please Note:

The lighthouse cannot be climbed at this time.
The rest of the island aside from the 10 acre Light Station is privately owned and all visitors must stay within the 10 acre boundaries.
Guests will not be permitted to visit the Assistant Keeper’s House; that is only accessible to Essex Heritage Members who have booked an overnight stay.
Please read through all the FAQ’s and our Cancellation Policy before purchasing tickets.

Boat Departure Location: Naumkeag departs from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney Street, Salem MA 01970.
Tickets:

Adults: $40
Children (4-12 yr): $25
Essex Heritage Members receive a 20% discount! (A discount code will be provided on membership confirmation letter.)

Are there restrictions on who can go?
YES. All passengers must be:

At least 4 years old (No infants; in arms or baby carriers)
Capable of negotiating the boat ramp and the rugged island terrain without assistance.

Treasure Islands of Salem Sound with Chris Leahy
2026-07-10 10:00 - 12:00 | 10 Blaney Street, 10 Blaney Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join local naturalist and birding expert, Chris Leahy, on his special birding-focused harbor tour which – will delight nature lovers.

Naturalist Chris Leahy will be leading this nautical exploration of the marine habits of Salem Sound and help you identify all the birds you’ll see along the way. Come enjoy the sights and sounds of Salem Harbor and learn more about the amazing array of bird species who call the north shore home during the summer months.
Boat Departure Location: Naumkeag departs from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney Street, Salem MA 01970.
Tickets:

Adults: $40
Children (4-12 yr): $25
Essex Heritage Members receive a 20% discount! (A discount code will be provided on membership confirmation letter.)

Are there restrictions on who can go?
YES. All passengers must be:

At least 4 years old (No infants; in arms or baby carriers)
Capable of negotiating the boat ramp and the rugged island terrain without assistance.

Shipwrecks of Salem Sound with Captain Ray Bates Jr.
2026-07-17 13:00 - 14:30, 2026-08-14 13:00 - 14:30 | 10 Blaney Street, 10 Blaney Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Come aboard Naumkeag with lifelong historian, author, and local diver, Captain Ray Bates, Jr., for a harbor tour to visit the sites and hear the stories of the many shipwrecks of Salem Sound. Captain Bates has been exploring shipwrecks since 1969 and has written several books on the maritime disasters that have occurred along Boston’s North Shore and Cape Ann. Essex Heritage is thrilled to partner with Ray, as he leads a tour sharing and locating the shipwrecks along the coast of Salem, Beverly and Marblehead, allowing passengers to truly “dig into the past and unearth long-lost stories for themselves.”
All passengers will receive a signed copy of Ray’s book, Shipwrecks North of Boston: Volume 1 , Salem Bay.
Ray Bates will have both volumes of his book and prints of his shipwreck map for sale following the tour.
Boat Departure Location: Naumkeag departs from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney Street, Salem MA 01970.
Tickets:

Adults: $40
Children (4-12 yr): $25
Essex Heritage Members receive a 20% discount! (A discount code will be provided on membership confirmation letter.)

Are there restrictions on who can go?
YES. All passengers must be:

At least 4 years old (No infants; in arms or baby carriers)
Capable of negotiating the boat ramp and the rugged island terrain without assistance.

Misery Island Mushroom Walk
2026-07-17 16:30 - 18:30, 2026-10-02 16:30 - 18:30 | Misery Island, Salem, MA, 01944, United States
Join mycologist Jana Harris from Essex Forays for a guided mushroom walk at Great Misery Island.

For all those interested in discovering fungi growing on the Misery Island of the coast of Beverly/Salem. This unique island environment hosts conifer and hardwood trees that provide background to growing fungi. Fungi don’t stop there. Animals nesting and living on this island contribute significantly to the growth of fungi and lichens on the island’s stone ruins. Join us on an exploratory walk around the island with Jana Harris of Essex Forays, certified in Wild Mushroom Food Safety and a member of Boston Mycological Club. Jana will ID mushrooms as we go and learn about edible and non-edible species. The trip will last about 2.5 hours and will give participants a chance to look closely at mushroom species that thrive in this secluded environment. Depending on weather, there will be different types of mushrooms to explore.
Please wear sturdy shoes, long pants, garden gloves, bring a water bottle, tick and bug repellent, ID field guide and a basket (optional). Please be aware that there is a lot of poison ivy off the trails on the island, so gloves and long pants are highly suggested.

1776: Why Independence?
2026-07-22 18:30 - 19:45 | Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join Dr. Robert Allison as he discusses the challenges, opportunities, and the role of Essex County as America declared independence in 1776.
Why did the American colonies declare Independence in 1776? What were the challenges, and what potential opportunities did they see? How did their thinking change from trying to preserve their long-cherished charter rights to announcing their arrival as an independent entity, equal among the powers of the earth to all other nations? What was the role of Essex County in this momentous decision?
Robert Allison, a professor of history at Suffolk University, also teaches at the Harvard Extension School. He has written a series of short books about the American Revolution, as well as histories of Boston and of Cape Cod. His longer works include publications on the Barbary Wars and Naval hero Stephen Decatur. He edited an edition of “The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.” Allison created two classes for The Teaching Company’s series “The Great Courses,” one focused on colonial America (“Before 1776: Life in the American Colonies) and the other on Benjamin Franklin (“The Age of Benjamin Franklin”) His work draws from his teaching, which has covered all phases of American history, though his primary focus is the American Revolution and the early American republic. He is president of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, a scholarly organization which publishes primary documents on early American history, a life-trustee of the USS CONSTITUTION Museum, and as chair of Revolution 250, Allison hosts its weekly podcast, a series of conversations on the Revolution with historians, museum curators, and reenactors.
While admission is free space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.
CLICK HERE to Register

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE for more information about Conflict & Community programs.

The Plight of Loyalists on the Eve of Independence
2026-08-19 18:30 - 19:45 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
This lecture, presented by historian Alexander Cain, examines the often-overlooked experiences of American Loyalists from New England, including those from Essex County, during the Revolutionary War. It examines how unwavering loyalty to the Crown led to the loss of homes, freedom, and security for numerous families. Drawing on original petitions and firsthand accounts, the presentation traces the harrowing flight of Loyalists from so-called “patriot” mobs and Committees of Safety. The discussion further explores the severe hardships endured by Loyalist families, including those from Salem, who sought refuge with the British army, facing starvation, violations of civil liberties, and exile. The lecture also highlights the resilience that enabled these individuals to persevere in the face of such adversity.

Alexander Cain, JD, has authored numerous research articles and presentations on the American Revolution, including the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, the Siege of Boston, and the experiences of New England and New York loyalist refugees during the Burgoyne Campaign. In addition, he has published two books:We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution and I See Nothing but the Horrors of a Civil War: The Loyalists of McAlpin’s Corps of American Volunteers. He is also the creator of the blog and podcast Historical Nerdery. Currently, he is in the process of writing his upcoming book, “For God’s Sake Fire!” – The Massachusetts Militia System on the Eve of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which is anticipated to be released in 2027.
Alex is the Executive Director of Apprenticeship Pathways at North Shore Community College. He resides in Massachusetts with his wife, Paula, and they have two adult children, John and Abigail. The fact that they are named after John and Abigail Adams is purely a coincidence.
While admission to this event is free, space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.
CLICK HERE to Register

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs.

Hannah in Context: What really happened, and why did it matter?
2026-09-17 18:30 - 19:45 | Salem Armory Visitor Center, 2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA, 01970, United States
Join Captain Michael Rutstein as he covers the events leading up to the famous battle between the armed American schooner Hannah and HMS Nautilus in October 1775. He will walk us step by step through the engagement and wrap up with the repercussions of this event and its impact on the course of the Revolution here on the North Shore.
Michael Rutstein: After drafting and then reluctantly abandoning a business plan to create a replica of Hannah, Rutstein commissioned local boatbuilder Harold Burnham to build a representation of the 1812 Salem privateer FAME in 2003. For 23 seasons, FAME sailed out of Pickering Wharf in Salem to critical and popular acclaim. In April 2026, FAME was sold to the Liberty Fleet of Tall Ships in Boston.

While admission is free, space is limited; registration is strongly encouraged.
CLICK HERE to Register

This program is part of the Conflict & Community: Salem, Essex County, and the American Revolution lecture series. This series is a partnership between Essex Heritage and Salem Maritime National Historical Park and highlights the unique role of Essex County communities during the American Revolution. CLICK HERE or more information about Conflict & Community programs.

Great Misery Island Birding and Nature Tour with Chris Leahy
2026-09-18 08:00 - 11:30 | Misery Island, Salem, MA, 01944, United States
Join naturalist Chris Leahy for an in-depth exploration of the nature and birds of Great Misery Island.

Explore the birds and environments of Great Misery Island.
With 83 acres of varied habitats, Great Misery Island – now protected by The Trustees – offers a fascinating mix of natural and human history. On this 3.5-hour trip (including 30-minute boat ride each way), you will explore these varied elements with naturalist and Cape Ann resident, Chris Leahy. Of special interest will be the commencement of fall bird migration. We will spend the morning walking slowly on well-maintained trails, some of which go uphill, but not very steeply. Comfortable shoes, sunscreen and insect/tick repellant are recommended.
Boat Departure Location: Naumkeag departs from the Salem Ferry dock at 10 Blaney Street, Salem MA 01970.
Tickets:

Adults: $40
Children (4-12 yr): $25
Essex Heritage Members receive a 20% discount! (A discount code will be provided on membership confirmation letter.)

Are there restrictions on who can go?
YES. All passengers must be:

At least 4 years old (No infants; in arms or baby carriers)
Capable of negotiating the boat ramp and the rugged island terrain without assistance.
