Timeline of Salem, Massachusetts facts for kids

This is a timeline of the history of the city of Salem, Massachusetts, United States.

Timeline of Salem's History

The 1600s: Early Days and Witch Trials

• 1626
  • Settlers first arrived in the area.
• 1629
  • The town of Salem was officially created.

Salem Common during the winter

• 1629
  • The first military drill, called a muster, happened on Salem Common. This was the first time a group of soldiers trained together to protect several communities. This event helped create what is now the Army National Guard.
• 1644
  • Fort Pickering was built to protect the harbor.

Gedney & Cox Houses

• 1649
  • The first Salem Custom House was built. This building collected taxes on goods brought into the city by ship.
• 1651
  • The Pickering House was built around this time.
• 1664
  • The Pickman House was built. Today, it is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum.
• 1665
  • The Gedney House was built. It is now a museum run by Historic New England.
• 1667
  • The famous House of the Seven Gables was built for Captain John Turner.
• 1675
  • The Jonathan Corwin house was finished.
  • The Narbonne House was built.
• 1680
  • The Neal House was built at 12 Broad Street.
• 1684
  • The John Ward House was built. It was moved in 1910 and is now part of the Peabody Essex Museum, open for tours.
• 1688
  • The William Murray House was built.
• 1692
  • The sad Salem witch trials began.

The 1700s: Growth and Revolution

Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, Salem, Massachusetts.

• 1712
  • Sea Captain Richard Derby, a famous sailor and father of Elias Hasket Derby, was born in Salem.
• 1727
  • The Crowninshield-Bentley House was built. This old house, in the Georgian style, is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and offers public tours.
• 1739
  • Elias Hasket Derby, a famous New England merchant whose ships captured many enemy vessels during the American Revolution, was born in Salem.
• 1745
  • Timothy Pickering, an important politician from Massachusetts who served in the United States Congress and as the 3rd United States Secretary of State under George Washington, was born in Salem.
• 1750
  • The Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace, where American author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born, was built. It was moved in 1958 and is now a museum with the House of the Seven Gables.
• 1757
  • 

    Samuel McIntire, c. 1786, pastel portrait attributed to Benjamin Blyth
    Samuel McIntire, a famous American architect and craftsman, was born in Salem.
• 1760
  • The Salem Social Library, a library where members paid a fee, was started.
• 1762
  • The Derby House was built. It is the oldest brick house in Salem.
  • Derby Wharf was built. It is Salem's longest wharf, stretching almost half a mile. It was used to load and unload goods from around the world.
• 1766
  • The Salem Marine Society was formed in Salem.
• 1768
  • The Essex Gazette newspaper began publishing.
• 1773
  • Nathaniel Bowditch, an American mathematician, was born in Salem.

Nathaniel Bowditch

• 1774
  • The British governor, Thomas Gage, moved the capital of Massachusetts to Salem. This happened because of protests after the The Boston Tea Party.
• 1775
  • On February 26, patriots stopped British soldiers from taking supplies by raising the drawbridge at the North River.
• 1776
  • Fort Lee was built for the American Revolutionary War.
• 1780
  • May 19: New England's Dark Day, when the sky became very dark during the day, possibly due to smoke from forest fires.
  • The Grand Turk (ship) was launched in Salem. This was the first American ship to trade directly with China.
• 1781
  • The Salem Philosophical Library was started. It later joined with the Salem Athenaeum.
• 1782
  • The Peirce-Nichols House was built. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
  • The Cotting-Smith Assembly House was built. George Washington once attended a dance here.
• 1784
  • The Joshua Ward House, one of the first brick houses in Salem, was built. George Washington reportedly stayed here in 1789.
• 1785
  • The original courthouse for Essex County Court Buildings was built.
• 1786
  • The Salem Mercury newspaper began publishing.

Rufus Choate House, (National Register of Historic Places) 1787.

• 1790
  • The Salem Gazette newspaper began publishing.
  • Salem's population was 7,921 people.
• 1791
  • Bakers Island Light was established.
• 1796
  • Chestnut Street was planned and became part of the McIntire Historic District, named after Samuel McIntire.
• 1797
  • The Friendship of Salem was built. This ship made many voyages around the world.
• 1799
  • The USS Essex (1799) was launched in Salem for the United States Navy.
  • The East India Marine Society was formed by Salem ship captains.

East India Marine Hall in 2013, now part of the Peabody Essex Museum

(built, 1805) Customs House. Downtown Salem, MA

Topmast Studio (WORKSHOP) Salem Massachusetts

The 1800s: Industry and Innovation

Essex Register published in Salem 1807-1840

Map of Salem, 1820

City Hall, built 1838 (photo later 19th century)

Advertisements for Salem businesses, 1857

• 1800
  • The Impartial Register newspaper began publishing.
• 1804
  • The Gardner-Pingree House was built by Samuel McIntire.
• 1805
  • The First Universalist congregation was founded.
  • Hamilton Hall was built by Samuel McIntire.
  • The Nathaniel Bowditch House was built. It was once home to Nathaniel Bowditch, who wrote an important book on navigation. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
• 1806
  • The Stephen Phillips House was built.
  • Derby Wharf was extended.
• 1810
  • The Salem Athenaeum, a private library, was founded.
• 1811
  • The Joseph Story House was built for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story. It is now a National Historic Landmark.
• 1816
  • Salem Old Town Hall was built. It is the oldest government building still standing in Salem.
• 1819
  • The Andrew–Safford House was built. It was said to be the most expensive house in the United States at the time.
  • The Salem Customs House was built on the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
• 1823
  • The Salem Observer newspaper began publishing.
• 1825
  • The East India Marine Hall was built.
• 1830
  • The Salem Lyceum was formed, a place for lectures and discussions.
• 1836
  • The City of Salem was officially incorporated as a city.
  • Leverett Saltonstall became the first mayor.
• 1838
  • City Hall was built.
  • A railroad line connecting Salem to Boston opened. It is still used today.

A late drawing of the first station in Salem, Massachusetts

• 1839
  • A branch railroad line from Salem to Marblehead opened.
• 1840
  • Harmony Grove Cemetery was established.
• 1848
  • The Essex Institute was established.

Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, circa 1900-1910.

• 1850
  • Salem native Nathaniel Hawthorne published his famous novel, The Scarlet Letter.
• 1851
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The House of the Seven Gables, which is set in Salem, was published.
• 1854
  • Salem Normal School (now Salem State University) was established to train teachers.

Salem Harbor, oil on canvas, Fitz Hugh Lane, 1853.

• 1858
  • Salem Willows public park was created.
• 1868
  • The Peabody Academy of Science was organized.
• 1871
  • Derby Wharf Light was built at the end of Derby Wharf.

Map of Salem and Harbor, 1883

• 1876
  • A telephone demonstration happened between Boston and Salem.

The southern end of the station in the 1880s

• 1882
  • A fire destroyed the wooden train shed at the Salem station.
• 1883
  • Parker Brothers, a famous toy and game company, was founded in Salem by George S. Parker and Frederick Huntington "Fred" Parker.
• 1889
  • The Wesley Methodist Church was built.
• 1898
  • The YMCA building in Salem was constructed.

The 1900s: Modern Times and Major Events

• 1901
  • St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and Rectory was founded.
• 1906
  • Parker Brothers published the game Rook, which became a best-seller.
• 1907
  • The Salem Athenaeum moved into its new building.
• 1908
  • The House of the Seven Gables was bought by Caroline O. Emmerton. She restored it to be a museum, with admission fees supporting her settlement association.
• 1914
  • The Great Salem Fire of 1914 caused widespread damage.
• 1915
  • The Peabody Museum of Salem was officially formed.
• 1930
  • Pioneer Village, a living history museum, opened.

US Post Office in Salem

Coast Guard Air Station Salem patch

First page of Charles Darrow's patent submission for Monopoly, submitted and granted in 1935

• 1932
  • The Salem Post Office was built in downtown Salem.
• 1935
  • The Coast Guard Air Station Salem was established on Winter Island.
  • The Misery Islands in Salem Sound were made a nature reserve.
  • Parker Brothers published the popular board game Monopoly.
• 1938
  • The Salem Maritime National Historic Site was created. It was the first National Historic Site in the United States.
• 1944
  • Air Station Salem became the first Air-Sea Rescue station on the East Coast.
• 1958
  • The B&M extended the Salem tunnel.
• 1965
  • The Nathaniel Bowditch House was declared a National Historic Landmark.
• 1968
  • The John Ward House was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1969
  • The Fort Pickering Light was stopped from being used by the Coast Guard.
• 1970
  • Hamilton Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The Coast Guard Air Station Salem moved to Cape Cod.
  • The 30-acre Winter Island park opened to the public.

Hamilton Hall at 9 Chestnut Street – added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 & built in 1805 by Samuel McIntire -

• 1972
  • The Old Town Hall Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1973
  • Salem City Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1977
  • The Dodge Wing was completed at the Peabody Essex Museum.
• 1981
  • The Chestnut Street District was created. It is the city's largest historic district.
• 1983
  • Fort Pickering Light was relit for private use.
  • Stephen Phillips House was added to the National Register of Historic Places and is now a museum.
• 1984
  • The entire Winter Island area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic and archaeological district.
• 1987
  • The Derby Wharf Light Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1987-built station viewed in 2010

• 1988
  • Salem held its first annual Salem Maritime Festival.
• 1991
  • Salem established a sister city relationship with Ōta, Tokyo, Japan.
• 1992
  • The Peabody Essex Museum was formed by merging with the Essex Institute.
• 1997
  • A rigging shed was built at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site for the ship Friendship.
• 1999
  • The Salem Diner was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The 2000s: New Millennium and Development

• 2000
  • The Friendship of Salem, a replica of a 1797 ship, was built. It is docked at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

Friendship of Salem at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

• 2001
  • Pickering Wharf Marina opened in Salem Harbor.
• 2003
  • The National Park Service acquired the Pedrick Store House, a 1770 warehouse, and moved it to Salem.
  • A replica of the schooner Fame, a privateer from the War of 1812, was launched. It now offers cruises on Salem Sound.

The Salem Ferry, named after Nathaniel Bowditch, approaches its dock.

• • The Peabody Essex Museum completed a large renovation, doubling its gallery space.
  • The Yin Yu Tang House, an early 19th-century Chinese house, was reassembled inside the Peabody Essex Museum.
• 2005
  • A homeless shelter opened in downtown Salem.
• 2006
  • Kimberley Driscoll became mayor of Salem.

Kimberley Layne Driscoll, former mayor of Salem and current lieutenant governor of Massachusetts.

• • The Salem Ferry, a high-speed boat to Boston, had its first trip.
• 2007
  • The House of the Seven Gables Historic District was named a National Historic Landmark.
• 2009
  • The Salem Farmers Market began, taking place every Thursday.
• 2010
  • Salem State University was officially changed from Salem State College.
  • The Salem Harborwalk, a walkway along the waterfront, opened.
• 2011
  • The J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center opened in Salem.
  • A bike sharing program called Salem Spins started, offering free bicycles.
• 2012
  • Plans were made to extend the pier and dredge the harbor to allow larger ships to visit.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Bilevel rail car approaching Salem

• 2013
  • President of the United States Barack Obama signed an order recognizing Salem as the birthplace of the U.S. National Guard.
  • Salem installed electric car charging stations, free for two years.
  • A new library and fitness facility were planned for Salem State University.
• 2014
  • The Coal-Fired Power Plant was shut down, allowing for changes to the harbor.
  • The new Salem MBTA Parking Garage opened, a project that had been planned for 20 years.

Chestnut Street, part of the McIntire Historic District.

• 2015
  • Construction began on a new natural gas-fired power plant on Salem Harbor.
  • Over one million tourists visited Salem annually, bringing in over $100 million in tourism money.
  • The Joshua Ward House was turned into an 11-room hotel.

Main entrance to Salem station, January 2016

• 2016
  • The Peabody Essex Museum announced a large expansion project.
  • A new Salem Water Shuttle began service with four stops in Salem Harbor.
• 2017
  • A new 44-room hotel with a roof deck restaurant and bowling alley opened downtown.
  • John Legend was honored by Salem State University for his work in social justice.
• 2018
  • Salem received a federal grant for a second ferry to operate from Salem Harbor.
  • A $50 million hotel development project began on Washington and Dodge Streets.
• 2019
  • The comedy film Hubie Halloween, starring Adam Sandler, was filmed in Salem.
  • The Peabody Essex Museum opened its $200 million 'Gallery Expansion Project'.
• 2020
  • A Hampton Inn hotel with apartments opened downtown.
  • The City of Salem launched the Salem Skipper, a new on-demand transit service.

Topmast Studio at the Custom House in Downtown Salem.

• 2021
  • A new luxury condo building named BRIX opened.
• 2022
  • The Governor of Massachusetts announced $30 million for Salem State University to redesign its campus.
  • Salem began providing ballots in Spanish, as 20% of its population speaks Spanish.
  • Pickleball courts were added at Salem Willows.
  • The House of Seven Gables received a grant for a climate adaptation plan.
  • 42 acres on the Salem waterfront were sold for $30 million to develop an offshore wind port terminal.
  • Kim Driscoll, the Mayor of Salem, won the election to become Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.
• 2023
  • Robert McCarthy became the acting Salem Mayor, followed by Dominick Pangallo who was voted in as the 52nd Mayor of Salem.
  • The City of Salem announced a project to create a memorial for Charlotte Forten.
  • Salem welcomed 1.3 million visitors between mid-September and October, showing it is a very popular fall destination.
• 2024
  • A city rule banning camping on public property was passed by the City Council.
  • The Derby Wharf stabilization and repair project began, funded by the National Park Service.
  • Two million dollars in funding was secured to move forward with a second train station in Salem, near Salem State University.
  • A groundbreaking ceremony took place for a new offshore wind port on Salem Harbor, the second for Massachusetts.
  • The Charlotte Forten statue dedication ceremony took place at Charlotte Forten Park.
  • Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo announced Uplift Salem, a program giving $500 a month to 100 residents.
  • The 27th Annual Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade was scheduled for October 3.
  • Salem had another record year for October tourism, with over 1 million visitors for its Haunted Happenings festival.
  • The new Salem Willows Fishing Pier, rebuilt after deterioration, opened on December 2.