Established in 1938, Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves the wharves and historic buildings tied to Salem's role in the economic development of the young United States. From its founding in 1626 through the late 19th century, Salem depended on the sea for its livelihood, reaching its peak between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, when its shipbuilders, merchants, and mariners opened new American trade ports in Asia and elsewhere in the world. The wealth from this maritime trade strengthened the new nation's economy and made Salem the sixth largest city in America in 1790. The site includes historic wharves, buildings, and places connected to that maritime past, among them Derby Wharf, the Derby House, the Custom House, and other structures linked to trade, customs, shipping, and the people who supported Salem's harbor economy.
