Salem National Historic Sites Hit With Government Shutdown Closures

SALEM, MA — The second week of the federal government funding shutdown is hitting Salem at the busiest time of year for Witch City tourism.

Access to federal sites such as the Salem National Historic Site-operated properties, including the National Park Visitor Center, is restricted as the impasse in Washington D.C. dragged on Monday.

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo told Patch that, while not ideal, the city is taking steps to mitigate the closures — especially those involving bathrooms — during the shutdown.

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"The federal budget process comes up on Oct. 1 every year, so this is something that we have dealt with when it's come up before (during the Halloween rush)," Pangallo told Patch. "Unfortunately, it lands during our busiest season. The biggest impact to the National Park Service being closed is not only the bathroom access but that they are a key partner for us during this month and provide access to some of our historic sites."

Pangallo told Patch that his office was working with its community partners to potentially reopen the bathrooms or provide additional alternative facilities if the shutdown lasts into the busiest weeks of the month.

"We have ample facilities," Pangallo aid. "But, certainly, when you are welcoming a million visitors over the course of the month, you want to have as many as possible."

To make up for the loss, CBS Boston on Monday reported that 100 portable restrooms and city-operated facilities remain available.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)