Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act

House Votes

This bill changes the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Massachusetts to the Salem Maritime National Historical Park. It also tells the Department of the Interior to study whether nearby places tied to Salem’s maritime past, coastal defenses, and military history should be added to the park. The study area includes Salem and nearby areas, including the Salem Armory Visitor Center and Salem Armory Park. Any old references to the “Historic Site” will now mean the “Historical Park” going forward. A summary from the Library of Congress describes the same change and study plan.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Visitors, local residents, and park staff in Salem, MA.
• What changes: The site’s name becomes “Salem Maritime National Historical Park,” and a boundary study will look at adding related historic places to the park .
• When: The study report is due within 3 years after funding is provided for the study.

What this means for the community: Expect updated maps, signs, and materials with the new park name, and the study could lead to more local historic sites being protected and interpreted as part of the park in the future .