Salem’s First Day
Hike
Explore the
history of the Salem Custom Houses
December 5, 2019 (Salem, MA)
– On January 1, 2020, the National Park
Service, the City of Salem, Essex
National Heritage Commission, and the Salem Historical Society invite locals and community members to participate in First Day Hike, a national
initiative established by America’s State Parks to get
people outdoors and connecting with places in their own backyards. This will be
the fifth year that Salem community members have participated in First Day Hike.
This year’s hike
will begin at 12:00pm at the National Park Service Regional Visitor Center, 2
New Liberty Street. This year’s hike will focus on the importance of the Custom
House to Salem’s history. David Moffat from the Salem
Historical Society will lead the hike through the
downtown district stopping at a few of the locations of past Custom Houses
along the way. The hike will finish at the 1819 Custom House at Salem Maritime
National Historic Site, followed by an optional walk up and back on Derby
Wharf. This event is free and open to hikers of all ages.
“I would like to thank the
National Park Service and the Essex Heritage Commission for organizing this First
Hike event. It has become a new Salem tradition and a great way to start off
the New Year,” says Salem Mayor Kimberly Driscoll.
“Join your
community by tromping around town as part of the First Day Hike. We've
done this for five years, so now it’s a custom! This year, plan to unwrap
the history of Custom Houses in Salem,” says Salem Maritime National Historic
Site Superintendent Paul DePrey.
Essex National
Heritage Commission CEO Annie Harris says, “Over the past five years, Salem’s
First Day Hike has become very popular and we are thrilled to partner on this
wonderful event that gets people outside, enjoying the rich heritage of their
community.”
In 2019, close to 55,000
people from across the nation kicked off the New Year with a First Day Hike. While
State Parks entice millions of visitors year-round, a First Day Hike in many
states offers a family-friendly event with a unique perspective of what nature
has to offer. America’s State Parks is the website host for First Day Hikes in
2020. Find additional information on hundreds of First Day Hike opportunities
across the country at www.stateparks.org.
About
Essex Heritage and the Essex National Heritage Area
Essex Heritage is the non-profit organization that manages
the Essex National Heritage Area by developing programs that enhance, preserve
and encourage recreation, education, conservation and interpretation projects
on Boston’s North Shore and the Lower Merrimack River Valley. The Essex
National Heritage Area is comprised of the 34 cities and towns of Essex County,
MA. For more information, visit www.EssexHeritage.org or call (978) 740-0444.
--
Cheri Grishin
Program Manager
Essex Heritage
(978) 740-0444
