Salem Hosts Events To Celebrate National Preservation Month

SALEM, MA – Salem will celebrate National Preservation Month by holding events to highlight some of the city's historic sites. The city will host workshops, install historic neighborhood signs, launch an informational website, and conduct a building survey.

"National Preservation Month provides the City with an opportunity to make clear why preservation is so important to Salem and to honor and celebrate the historic sites and preservation partner organizations that make our community so special," said Mayor Kim Driscoll. "Historic preservation is more than just saving old houses; it serves as a vital tool for economic development, revitalizing our neighborhoods, and fostering community pride. I encourage everyone to celebrate National Preservation Month by participating in the activities planned by the City and our preservation partners."

The Salem Historical Commission will partner with local preservation organizations including Historic Salem, Inc., the National Park Service, The House of the Seven Gables, the Peabody Essex Museum, Essex National Heritage Commission, the Salem Historical Society, the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery, the Witch House, Pioneer Village,Salem Main Streets, the Salem Partnership, and Destination Salem to host a breakfast for officials and community leaders to highlight the economic, social, and environmental benefits of historic preservation in Salem.

The Salem Historical Commission and its partners will also sponsor a series of workshops in May, including a workshop for historic homeowners on May 6th. For more information about the workshops and other events during Preservation Month, see http://www.salem.com/historical-commission/pages/may-preservation-month.

During Preservation Month, the Salem Historical Commission will also unveil several new initiatives, including a "Preserving Salem" website to highlight Salem’s historic sites, provide updates on current restoration projects in the City, and serve as a resource for owners of historic buildings. The City will be installing six new interpretive panels in historic neighborhoods and parks throughout Salem and in June, consultants will complete a survey of historic buildings in downtown Salem and will present their findings to the Historical Commission and the Salem Redevelopment Authority.

National Preservation Month was started in 1971 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is now celebrated by communities throughout the country.

Image via Torsten Henning, Wikimedia Commons