fame-of-salem

What is the best boat to charter in Salem?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:45:52 GMT

The answer depends on how many guests you have, and what kind of boat you want to be on. There are several options in Salem.

If you want to sail, there are two options: the Schooner Fame (www.SchoonerFame.com), which is based here in Salem, and Sunset Sail Salem, which operates two schooners which travel between Key West and Salem.

Schooner Fame has a larger passenger capacity (49) than either of Sunset Sail Salem’s two schooners. Fame is wider, which makes the space feel more like a living room. It also has higher bulwarks and lifelines, which makes it easier for guests to move around the boat. Finally, Fame is located downtown, steps from Pickering Wharf’s shops, restaurants and night life.

Fame is a replica of privateer from the War of 1812. The schooner carries two small cannon which are fired on every trip. Fame has been operated by the same local family since 2003 and has won numerous awards, including TripAdvisor’s “Best of the Best” honor (four times).

Sunset Sail Salem (www.sunsetsailsalem.com) has two more modern schooners which were designed by the famous naval architect John Alden. They are typical of the cruising & racing schooners built for wealthy families in the 1930s. “Malabar X” has won many races, while “When and If” was built for General George Patton, who hoped that “when and if” he survived World War II, he and his family would sail it around the world.

All three schooners have engines which they use to get on and off the dock, but the goal is always to sail as much as possible.

If you prefer a motorboat charter, Mahi Cruises (www.mahicruises.com) has two vessels: the two-decked Hannah Glover which can host groups as large as 150, and the 49-passenger Finback, which resembles a lobster boat design.

If you’re looking for a fishing charter, there are several options on North Shore. Right in Pickering Wharf there is the classic sportfisherman THE ALIBI (www.charteralibi.com).

It is also possible to rent or charter smaller vessels for smaller groups; there are several apps which pair charter parties with available boats.

Whale-watching in Salem

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:06:58 GMT

Will we see whales?

We hear this question all the time!

Salem, of course, has a rich maritime history dating back to the colonial era, known primarily for its trading and privateering. But whaling was never a big part of the mix, at least until the 1830s, a time when Salem was struggling to reinvent itself after war and embargo had decimated its profitable maritime trade.

The Izette, Salem’s first vessel dedicated entirely to whaling, sailed from Salem in 1831. Under Captain Hoit, the Izette traveled to the South Atlantic before returning, over a year later, with 1600 barrels of oil.

With the success of the Izette, Salem’s whaling industry began to grow. In 1832, advertisements calling for young men willing to enlist in whaling voyages appeared in the Salem Gazette, and by July, four more whalers had sailed.

In 1837, the Salem Gazette reported that Salem’s whaling fleet was the sixth largest in America, with 18 active whalers. However, the financial panic of 1837 made Salem businessmen less willing and able to invest in whaling. In the 1840s, a number of Salem’s whalers were destroyed at sea and, due to a lack of funds, they were never replaced. Salem businessmen began to invest in other industries – particularly in railroads and manufacturing – and the whaling business faded away.

In 1859, Edwin Drake drilled the world’s first oil well in Pennsylvania and whale oil prices began to drop. Whales continued to be hunted, however. By 1900, bowhead, gray, and right whales were nearly extinct, and whaling declined. It revived with the invention of harpoons shot from cannons, explosive tips and factory ships. As each species was reduced to the point where it was hard to find, whalers moved on to the next species, catching blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, sei whales and minke whales in sequence.

In 1931, 27 countries signed the first convention for the regulation of whaling. This began a long, stop-and-start process in which quotas and seasons were established, modified — and often ignored. Whales are still hunted today.

The Evolution of Whale Watching

Along with the efforts to limit whaling came an increased interest in whales, whale-watching and environmental tourism. The first organized commercial whale-watching tour is often attributed to Cheryl Szatko, who started offering tours to see grey whales off California in 1956.

Under Albert Avellar Jr., the schooner Hindu was instrumental in the establishment of the whale-watching industry in Provincetown, Massachusetts during the 1960s. Avellar benefitted from the presence of whales on nearby Stellwagen Bank to offer whale-watching under sail, which unfortunately is no longer available in New England thanks to the distances that must be covered.

Whale Watching in Salem

By the 1980s and 1990s whale-watching was well-established as a significant New England tourist attraction. Provincetown, Boston, Newburyport and especially Gloucester all offered trips. For several years, Salem visitors could go on whale watches aboard the Super Ranger, docked at Pickering Wharf, and as late as 2003 there were cruises aboard a smaller vessel, the Privateer IV.

Despite the number of tourists in Salem, the whale watching cruises struggled. Salem was further from the whales than other ports, which meant that whale watches from Salem often lasted four or five hours — more time than most visitors wished to commit. The long trips also meant higher fuel bills and lower profits for the boat operators.

Since 2003, there have been no whale-watching cruises out of Salem.

Boating Options in Salem

The importance of Salem’s maritime history is represented today by several other kinds of vessels.

The longest-running commercial vessel in Salem is the Schooner FAME of Salem ( www.schoonerfame.com ). Fame is a traditional wooden schooner, a replica of a successful privateer from the War of 1812. This business is a three-time winner of TripAdvisor’s “Best of the Best” award honoring the top 1% of attractions worldwide.

Fame is a 70’ schooner certified for 49 passengers, although only 32 tickets are sold for public sails. It is based at Pickering Wharf Marina right downtown. Drinks and snacks are available for sale on board. The captain and crew, all locals who are great resources for those visiting the area, talk about the history of Salem and of the original Fame, which captured the first prizes of the War of 1812. The cruise concludes with the firing of the cannon.

There are other sailing tours from Salem (www.SunsetSailSalem.com), although these boats are not based in Salem year-round and have no particular historical connection to Salem. They are docked ¾ of a mile from downtown Salem at Blaney Street, near the Power Plant.

Closer to the downtown attractions, there is Mahi Cruises (www.Mahicruises.com), which operates a small fleet of motorized vessels. They offer a variety of tours of Salem Sound including live music events on their larger vessel, the Hannah Glover. The Glover is the largest commercial vessel in the harbor and is the only option for groups of 50 or more.

In recent years, Tiki Boats Salem (https://tikihutboats.com) has two small “tiki boats” for up to six passengers at a time. These quaint-looking rafts are restricted to the harbor but offer a variety of custom tiki cocktails and have proved quite popular.

Finally, the landing craft Naumkeag is operated by Essex Heritage, and takes visitors out to Baker’s Island on Fridays and Sundays (www.bakersislandlight.org). Naumkeag also visits Misery Island during the summer months, and offers occasional historical and narrated tours.

The large replica tall ship operated by the National Park Service, the Friendship (www.nps.gov/places/friendship-of-salem.htm), does not offer sails, but is open to visitors. Friendship is a 171-foot replica of a 1797 East Indiaman. It was built in 2000 in the Scarano Brothers Shipyard in Albany, New York.

Whale Watching in Essex County

Cape Ann Whale Watch, Gloucester: https://www.seethewhales.com/

Seven Seas Whale Watch, Gloucester: https://www.7seaswhalewatch.com/

Newburyport Whale Watch, Newburyport: https://www.newburyportwhalewatch.com/

Whale Watching in Massachusetts

New England Aquarium, Boston: https://www.cityexperiences.com/boston/city-cruises/whale-watch/

Dolphin Fleet, Provincetown: https://whalewatch.com/

FAME named “Best of the Best” again!

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:23:22 GMT

Schooner FAME is a “Best of the Best” honoree THREE years in a row!

International travel leader TripAdvisor has now named the Schooner FAME of Salem as a “Best of the Best” honoree THREE years in a row!

“Best of the Best” honors are reserved for the top 1% of attractions worldwide, so this is a very prestigious award. Only one other Salem attraction has ever been named a “Best of the Best” honoree — Witch City Walking Tours.

In addition to their “Best of the Best” award, TripAdvisor honors attractions in the top 10% worldwide with their “Traveler’s Choice” badge. Awards are based on reviews and ratings collected over the previous 12 months.

Fame has won either “Traveler’s Choice” or “Best of the Best” honors every year since the program was expanded beyond hotels to tours and activities in 2018.

No other Salem boat has won “Best of the Best” honors.

Note that if you Google “Best Things to Do in Salem” you won’t necessarily be shown “Best of the Best” winners, even on TripAdvisor! TripAdvisor will show you the top trips it thinks you will book, regardless of their ranking. Remember when making your plans: the internet is not a public service! It’s a collection of businesses trying to make as much money as they can.

Five Top Things You'll See on your Salem Cruise

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:39:14 GMT

1 - You’ll see the sails go up… and the captain turn off the motor!

Yes, we really do sail our traditional wooden schooner, and we love the reaction we get when our guests realize that the wind alone is powering our progress through Salem Sound! One of our skippers calls out “Welcome to the 19th century!” as he cuts the motor.

As long as the weather is reasonable, guests are welcome to take a turn at the tiller and feel the pressure of the water on the rudder as FAME sails along. The schooner’s eight-foot-long locust tiller is a thing of beauty, handcrafted especially for FAME at the local boatyard where she was launched in 2003.

2 - You’ll see lighthouses — lots of them!

We generally can see five or six lighthouses on a typical trip. The Derby Wharf and Hospital Point lighthouses we usually see quite close up, as they are right in Salem Harbor. But after that it depends on where the wind is coming from, because the wind determines our route for each trip.

If the wind carries us to Beverly, you get a good look at the Hospital Point lighthouse. If we end up sailing to Marblehead, you’ll see the hundred-year-old steel tower of the Chandler Hovey Light. Either way, off in the distance you’ll see the lighthouse at Baker’s Island, once an important landmark. And if you’re joining us for a sunset cruise, you’ll see all these lights come on as the sun nears the horizon. You may even sight the distant blink of the Eastern Point Light, 12 miles away in Gloucester. See our other blog entries for more on each light!

3 - You’ll see islands — and each island has its own story.

Misery Island was named by a stranded, miserable boatbuilder; Children’s Island has had at least two other names and got its current one because it hosts the Marblehead YMCA camp. Winter Island is no longer an island, but archeology has shown that it was the site of indigenous settlements for thousands of years before European settlers arrived here.

Misery, Bakers, and Children’s Islands all hosted resorts back in the heyday of the “Gold Coast” when wealthy Bostonians flocked to the shores of Salem Sound each summer. See our other blog entries for more on each island!

4 - You’ll see over a thousand boats, in the marinas and on the moorings of Salem and Marblehead Harbors.

Between Salem, Marblehead and Beverly nearly 2000 private yachts are kept here each summer, making the North Shore one of the boating capitals of the East Coast. Most of these boats rest quietly at the dock during the week, but on a sunny summer day you can see dozens and maybe over a hundred vessels “underway, making way.” Marblehead boasts some gorgeous private boats. It is also the site of six yacht clubs and a sailing regatta seemingly every weekend all summer, featuring everything from small dinghies to large cruisers!

5 - You’ll see our competent, experienced, personable crew, who are there to answer your questions, make sure you’re comfortable, and tell you more about lighthouses, islands, forts and beautiful waterfront homes we are passing.

They’ll be looking for volunteers to raise the sails and take the tiller. They’ll explain how our vessel works and how our ancestors used wooden sailing ships to explore the known world, trade with distant lands, chase the valuable shoals of codfish and mackerel, and in FAME’s case, hunt down and capture enemy vessels in times of war! Our crew are wonderful sources of historical information and local knowledge — don’t hesitate to ask them questions. They may even explain how the cannon works — and give you a live-firing demonstration!

Five Top Things You'll See on Your Salem Cruise

You'll See... Lynch Park!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:23:22 GMT

You'll See... Lynch Park!

In light easterly or westerly winds, FAME often sails north out of Salem Harbor in the direction of Beverly, tacking off Lynch Park or Hospital Point [see Hospital Point blog].

Beverly was a port town in Colonial days, although never as busy as Salem, Marblehead, or Gloucester. The location of its small harbor, half a mile up a winding channel, led to its being selected by George Washington and John Glover as the base for their fleet of schooners in 1775. These schooners were intended to capture vessels that were bringing supplies to the British soldiers in Boston [see Hannah blog]. Beverly Harbor was used extensively by privateers throughout the Revolutionary War. Along the north end of Beverly Channel, batteries of cannon were placed at Woodberry Point to deter British vessels from attacking.

Long after the war, when the railroad made its way north from Boston to Beverly, Woodberry Point became an exclusive private estate, as did much of Beverly’s beautiful but rocky coastline. By the turn of the century, the “Gold Coast” between Beverly and Gloucester boasted some of the most exclusive summer properties in the country. The eastern parts of Beverly became the wealthy enclaves of Beverly Farms and Prides Crossing.

President Taft rented the Woodberry Point estate, then owned by the Evans family, to serve as his summer White House in 1909 and 1910, but the owners asked him to find another property after 1910 — they disliked all the attention the President attracted.

Later Beverly Hospital owned the Woodberry Point property, and sold it to the Town of Beverly which had recently been gifted $400,000 by David Lynch for the establishment of a public park. Thus, the property was named after Lynch, and remains a public park featuring an Italianate Garden with a tea house; a Carriage House which is available for private rental; two beaches; a children’s play structure; and more.

Gunnery Innovations of the War of 1812

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:19:12 GMT

Gunnery Innovations of the War of 1812

Wars provide huge incentives for combatants to develop new weapons, new tactics, and new strategies.

During the 18th century a new type of cannon had been developed — the carronade. A six-pound carronade would look resemble a traditional six-pound cannon on a carriage, except that the cannon barrel had been dramatically shortened, and the carriage often had a “slide” to absorb the recoil rather than wheels.

By shortening the barrel, the cannon became lighter and easier to load while still firing the same size ball. However, without the long barrel, accuracy suffered. Carronades were strictly short-range weapons, but they allowed even small warships to fire devastating broadsides if they could get close enough to their target.

The practice of firing broadsides from carriage-mounted cannon was also being challenged by the development of pivoting guns: heavy cannon mounted on the centerline of the vessel, on a carriage that could be turned to fire in any direction. Referred to as “pivots, “circles” or “rings” these devices eventually evolved into the modern gun turret.

Pivoting guns were an immediate hit with privateers, who didn’t want to be slowed down by lots of heavy cannon but wished to have long-range striking power in case they were chasing, or being chased. As the war went on, many smaller privateers and even some naval vessels began mountings several smaller cannon or carronades on carriages, and complementing these with a “Long Tom” — one much larger gun amidships on a pivot.

Until this point, warships and privateers had almost always mounted an even number of cannon, since the cannon were symmetrically arrayed on each side of the vessel. The USS Constitution, for example, is always referred to as a “44-gun frigate” — she had 22 guns mounted on her port battery and 22 guns mounted in her starboard battery. When you read of a 19th-century privateer mounting an odd number of cannon (usually one, three or five) it’s likely because they have added a centrally-mounted “Long Tom”.

PS — USS Constitution actually carried more than 44 cannon, but she was classed as a 44-gun frigate regardless. This was common practice in most navies.

Does FAME Really Have a Cannon?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:17:16 GMT

Does FAME Really Have a Cannon?

Our FAME has two swivel guns: small cannon that are mounted on the rail and can be quickly aimed and fired. They are cast-iron guns that fire black powder, ignited by a musket cap. We often fire the cannon as demonstration during our cruises. No, we do NOT fire cannon balls or grapeshot!

We know the original FAME carried two six-pounder cannon, which were much larger guns mounted on heavy oak carriages with wheels — the kind of cannon you see in pirate movies  These cannons were also cast iron, about six feet long, and fired a solid iron ball that weighed six pounds — thus the name “six-pounder”. The cannon on larger ships fired 9-pound, 12-pound, 18-pound, 24-gun, and even 32-pound shot!

Sadly, even six-pounders are too heavy for us to carry on our modern FAME. Together the cannon barrel and gun carriage would weigh almost a thousand pounds! But the original FAME almost certainly carried a number of swivel guns, which were very popular with privateers.

Remember, privateers hoped to capture and sell vessels and their cargoes, so they didn’t want to damage them too badly. What they wanted was to intimidate the other crew into surrendering their ship. Or, if intimidation didn’t work, they wanted to take out the rigging and sails, rather than put a hole in the hull. For that reason they only fired solid shot while chasing; solid shot flew much farther and could knock away a mast or spar, slowing down their prey. When closer, they would often switch to firing grapeshot, using the cannon and swivel guns as shotguns. This was only effective at short range, but it was very discouraging to the crew that was being fired at.

Of course, FAME’s prey could and sometimes did fire back, but merchant vessels carried much smaller crews than privateers and would have struggled to keep up a steady fire. Often when merchant vessels realized they could not escape, they would surrender before anyone got hurt. Even if the merchant captain (who was sometimes an owner of the vessel, the cargo, or both) preferred to fight, he would have a hard time persuading his hired crew to try to beat off a well-manned, well-armed privateer.

Although FAME captured 20 vessels during the War of 1812 cruises, there is no evidence that anyone on either side was killed in battle.

What did sailors eat and drink in 1812?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:15:26 GMT

What Did Sailors Eat and Drink in 1812?

For long voyages, food needed to be preserved somehow, and that meant salted, pickled, smoked, or dried. Many foods cannot be preserved with these methods, which meant that the sailors’ diet was pretty monotonous. Within a week of leaving port, the fresh provisions were gone, and meals consisted of the same items over and over. Hard biscuits, pickled pork, salt beef, cheese and butter were staples, along with peas, raisins, oatmeal, and dried salt codfish.

Barreled water quickly turned bad, so sailors drank “small beer” — with an alcohol content just high enough so that pathogens could not survive in it.

Larger ships had better-equipped galleys, and meals could be baked or roasted, but most food was boiled, and this is why the vessels carried so much fresh water. The beef was so heavily salted, to keep it from going rancid, that it was necessary to boil it in fresh water to make it edible.

Mariners who habitually made long voyages were aware of the connection between diet and scurvy by 1812. But the long cruises made by some privateers, and the lack of friendly ports they could visit for fresh provisions, meant that scurvy and provisioning in general were always a concern.

Although the food sounds awful, in the Royal Navy it was rarely complained about. Most common British sailors ate better on board ship than they would have eaten back home. For a New Englander signing aboard a Salem privateer, however, the shipboard fare was probably a step down from what he was used to.

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What Did Salem Harbor Look Like in 1812?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:13:43 GMT

What Did Salem Harbor Look Like in 1812?

Salem was one of the busiest harbors in the country in 1812. There were several long wharves and piers stretching far out into the harbor. These wharves were covered with warehouses and work sheds. During the War of 1812, the fort on Winter Island was put back into fighting shape, and vessels entering the port would salute the fort by firing a cannon (but not a cannonball) as they entered the harbor.

During the years before the war, there were as many as 250 ocean-going square-rigged vessels sailing out of Salem. But since these vessels were usually absent on long voyages all over the world, a typical day might see only one or two large vessels arriving or departing. There would be plenty of smaller boats, of course: fishing boats and “coasters” — smaller vessels carrying cargo up and down the coast.

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What Did the Schooner HANNAH Do?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:11:39 GMT

What Did the Schooner HANNAH Do?

Beverly, across the river from Salem, was used by George Washington during the early days of the Revolution as a base for schooners which were leased by the Continental Army, manned by local militia, and sent out to try to capture the ships bringing firewood, food, and other supplies to the British forces in Boston.

The first schooner leased for this purpose was a local fishing schooner called the Hannah. She was not very successful at capturing supply ships, but during a famous incident in October, 1775, she was chased into Beverly by a larger British warship, HMS Nautilus. The Nautilus then ran aground, however, which gave the local patriots an opportunity to fire their muskets and cannon at her from the nearby beaches until the sun set, the tide rose, and she was able to escape.

Many locals like to claim that Hannah was the first American naval vessel, but this is not strictly accurate. At the time Hannah was active, there was no United States and there was no Navy!

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What Was Impressment?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:09:58 GMT

What Was Impressment?

One of the major American complaints leading up to the War of 1812 was that the British, desperate for sailors to man their ships, were kidnapping American citizens on the high seas and forcing them to serve in the Royal Navy.

While this was certainly happening, it is more complicated than that.

At the time, most countries considered “citizenship” to be determined by the country in which you were you were born, and to be unchangeable. If you were born anywhere in the territories of Great Britain, you were a subject of King George, and as far as King George was concerned, you would always remain his subject — even if you emigrated to the US, lived there for years, became a “naturalized” citizen, and/or were employed on American ships. Seagoing subjects of the King of Great Britain had always been obligated to serve in his Navy whenever needed. And they were especially needed during the long struggle against Revolutionary and later Napoleonic France.

With roughly a thousand ships in commission, the Royal Navy had to resort to extreme measures to find sailors. It became common for British warships at sea to stop foreign vessels and examine their crews, looking for seamen who could be claimed as British subjects. Many British subjects were indeed avoiding military service, and earning higher wages, by working on American vessels. These sailors were the first to be seized. At that time, it was difficult to tell American from British sailors, and anyone with an Irish accent, especially, was likely to be taken. Many naturalized Americans, and even some native-born Americans, were removed from their ships, which enraged their friends and relatives as well as the US government.

Sailors took to carrying citizenship papers, but such papers soon became widely forged, and so the papers eventually were disregarded by British boarding parties.

Complaints and appeals occasionally led to the release of these sailors, but that process took time.

Nobody knows exactly how many men were impressed. Or how many of those were foreigners, how many were naturalized Americans, and how many were native-born Americans. But then as now, there were two major parties in American politics, and the Republicans — who were generally friendly toward France and hostile to Britain — exaggerated the number of impressments. The opposing Federalist Party downplayed them. The debate about how serious a problem impressment was, and what if anything should be done about it, went on for decades.

And we still don’t know what the numbers were.

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You'll See... Children's Island!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:08:37 GMT

You'll See... Children's Island!

Children’s Island is owned by the Marblehead YMCA, which offers summer camp sessions every summer. It was previously known as Cat Island and briefly Lowell Island, when it had a 100-room resort hotel. The hotel became a children’s sanitarium in 1878.

A hundred years earlier, a hospital had been built on the island to inoculate Marbleheaders against small pox. Not everyone believed the process was safe, however, and a group of Headers burned the facility down in 1774. This infuriated the investors, among whom was Captain, later General, John Glover.

Glover and his Marblehead militia became famous during the Revolutionary War for saving the Continental Army from disaster at the Battle of Long Island by rowing the retreating troops across the East River. Later, it was the Marbleheaders who rowed Washington across the Delaware River before his surprising victory at Trenton.

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Wait—What Shipwreck?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:06:59 GMT

Wait—What Shipwreck?

The shipwreck that lies between Great and Little Misery is the steamer CITY OF ROCKLAND. Built in 1900, she was 274’ long and weighed 1700 tons. She had a checkered 23-year career carrying people up and down the New England coast, including groundings, a collision, and sinking at a Boston dock.

After her last grounding, in Maine, she was towed to Boston and later to the anchorage between Great and Little Misery Islands where she was deliberately set on fire. Her keel can still be seen at low tide on the beach at Little Misery.

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You'll See... The Misery Islands!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:05:56 GMT

You'll See... The Misery Islands!

Misery Island is the biggest island in Salem Sound, over 80 acres. It’s currently owned by the Trustees of Reservations, but it used to be home to 25 summer cottages as well as a resort featuring piers, clubhouse, saltwater swimming pool, and a nine-hole golf course. The resort (and many of the cottages) burned in 1926.

About ten years later an oil company proposed turning the island into a “tank farm”. The Salem City Council rejected the proposal, but the surrounding neighbors — alarmed by the prospect — raised funds to purchase land on the island and donate it to the Trustees. Still, the Trustees had to fight off an attempt to use the island for a sewage treatment plant in 1988. Not until 1997 did the Trustees acquire 100% of the island.

The “Misery” name came from shipbuilder Robert Moulton, who went out to cut timber on the island one winter in the mid-1600s. A storm blew in and he was stranded on the island for several days, and evidently had a *miserable* time.

Over the years there have been several commercial boats that brought visitors out to Misery Island during the summer months, but this is made difficult by the lack of a dock. Currently there is some access on weekends via the Essex Heritage Commission’s vessel Naumkeg.

The shipwreck that lies between Great and Little Misery is the steamer CITY OF ROCKLAND. After a checkered 23-year career, she was towed to the Miseries where she was deliberately set on fire. Her keel can be seen at low tide.

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Who Won the War of 1812?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:04:24 GMT

Who Won the War of 1812?

Britain could claim they had never wanted to fight the US, and had successfully defended Canada. The US could boast they had managed to stave off the much more powerful British. The people who never recovered were the Native Americans, who mostly had sided with the British. Indian lands in the Midwest and Southeast were rapidly overrun by American settlers and became the states of Illinois, Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri. All five joined the Union between 1816 and 1821.

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What Was the War of 1812 About?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:03:12 GMT

What Was the War of 1812 About?

What Americans and Canadians call the “War of 1812” had really started in Europe 20 years earlier with the French Revolution. Two decades of war ensued, pitting Revolutionary and later Napoleonic France and her allies against a series of coalitions that variously included Great Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia. Eventually, the other European countries were dragged in as well.

At first, American merchants in towns like Salem traded with all sides and benefited hugely from the war. But British attempts to prevent Americans from trading with the French, and American attempts to protect their neutral trade, raised tensions between the US and Britain. The US also had other complaints: that the British were arming and inciting the Native Americans, and that the British were kidnapping American citizens on the high seas and forcing them to serve in the Royal Navy (“impressment”).

The US was unprepared for war and had only a small army and navy, but the British had their hands full fighting the French. In the spring of 1812, it seemed that the US might take advantage of events in Europe to seize par

ts of Canada and either use them as bargaining chips, or else annex them to the United States. Despite considerable opposition, war was declared in June of 1812. However, the hastily-improvised American invasions of Canada went nowhere, and meanwhile, Napoleon suffered a crushing defeat in Russia.

With the tide turning in their favor in Europe, the British were able to send more military assets to North America in 1813 and 1814. They in turn tried to invade the US from Canada, while at the same time launching raids along the coast. When those invasions failed, the British decided there was nothing to be gained by continuing the war and agreed to end it “status quo antebellum” meaning that everything went back to the way it was before the war.

In fact, with Napoleon suffering his final defeat at Waterloo just six months later, most of the tensions that had existed between the US and Great Britain disappeared.

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You'll See... Marblehead Light!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:01:52 GMT

You'll See... Marblehead Light!

Marblehead Light was built in 1896 and is the only light of its type in the US.

There had been an earlier lighthouse on the spot, built in the 1830s, when there were few buildings on Marblehead Neck. But as the area became popular, cottages obscured the small light.

After trying various workarounds — like hoisting a light up a tall flagpole each night — the Coast Guard built a new steel lighthouse. Its light is green, signifying that it should kept on the left when entering the harbor.

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You'll See... Baker's Island!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 20:00:29 GMT

You'll See... Baker's Island

Baker’s Island is home to over 50 summer cottages as well as the Baker’s Island Light, which was built in 1821. There used to be two lighthouses, side by side, “Ma” and “Pa”. Once Salem was no longer a major port, it was decided one light was enough, and “Ma” was bulldozed into the sea.

The two red-roofed cottages next to the lighthouse are part of the 10-acre lighthouse property, and were once occupied by the lighthouse keepers. They can be rented for the weekend from Essex Heritage, which maintains the lighthouse property, for $950 for up to 6 people for two nights (Fri & Sat).

The rest of the cottages, occupying the other 55 acres of the island, are privately owned. They were mostly built in the late 1800s, when there was also a hotel on the island, but the hotel burned down in 1906. There is no public access to this part of the island. The cottage owners even denied use of their common pier to Essex Heritage, which was forced to buy a small landing craftto take people out to the lighthouse property on the weekends.

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What is a Privateer?

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:59:15 GMT

What is a Privateer?

A ‘privateer’ was just a privately-owned vessel — sometimes built expressly for privateering, but more often converted from fishing or trading — which received a government license in wartime to go out and capture enemy merchant ships. This practice had begun during the Middle Ages, when countries did not have large navies, and evolved into a system that could help governments wage war at sea without having to pay for the ships or the sailors.

Privateering had been big business during the American Revolution and then again during the War of 1812. 43 different privateers sailed from Salem during the war: mostly schooners, but also full-rigged ships and tiny sloops and luggers. Over half of them were either captured by the British or wrecked. Privateering was risky, and that is why privateers were usually owned by groups of investors, in order to share the risk, rather than by individuals.

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You'll See... The Willows!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:57:57 GMT

You'll See... The Willows

The Willows is named for the willow trees planted in 1801 to form a shaded walk for patients at the nearby smallpox hospital. The area became a public park in 1858, and was a summer destination for residents of the North Shore , who traveled there on the newly popular streetcars. In fact, it was the Naumkeag Street Railway Company which built the amusement park that opened in 1880.

The park covers over 35 acres and includes a pier (destroyed several years ago by a winter storm, but scheduled to be rebuilt), a yacht club, an arcade, and take-out restaurants. There are gazebos, a small stage area, and tennis and basketball courts. There is a carousel as well as a miniature golf course. There are two small beaches, one called “Dead Horse Beach” reportedly because it was once used as a dumping ground for animal carcasses and other garbage.

The houses on crowded Juniper Point, next to the Willows, were originally occupied only during the summer, but they are now year-round homes. Unfortunately, they are very exposed to winter storms.

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The Original FAME

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:56:26 GMT

The Original FAME

The original Fame was a privateer schooner that sailed out of Salem, Massachusetts during the War of 1812.

But what, you ask, was a privateer? And what, exactly, is a schooner?

These are fair questions! A lot has changed in two hundred years. In 1812, however, everyone knew that a ‘privateer’ was nothing more than a privately-owned ship — sometimes built expressly for privateering, but more often a converted fishing or trading vessel — which applied for a government permit in wartime to go out and capture enemy vessels.

A ‘schooner’ is a sailing vessel with more than one mast and sails that are set “fore and aft,” that is, parallel to a line running from the bow to the stern. Fore-and-aft sails were an alternative to “square” sails, which were set perpendicular to that line between the bow and the stern. Ships such as the USS Constitution and the Mayflower had square sails. Bluenose, featured on the Canadian dime, is a schooner, although from a later period.

Fore-and-aft sails required fewer crewmen and allowed the vessel to sail closer to the wind, which was a huge advantage for coastal sailing. Very soon after they were introduced in the early 18th century, schooners came to dominate the fisheries. They were simpler and more weatherly than brigs or ships, and yet more versatile than the sloops and ketches that were used in the 17th century. The schooner rig allowed fishermen to easily “heave to” — park the vessel with her head slightly off the wind — in a variety of conditions. This allowed them to get on with the business of fishing without having to work the helm or sails.

Again, all this was common knowledge in 1812, when everyone who lived in sight of the sea knew a sloop from a schooner, just as everyone today knows a minivan from a pickup truck. Sailing vessels were the primary means of communication and transportation across oceans and along coasts, and schooners were as intrinsic to the America of 1812 as trucks are to the America of 2006.

Fame was a relatively small schooner, only about 70 feet overall, but big enough to carry two small cannon and a crew of 30. Although she was originally built as a fishing schooner, her speed and maneuverability made her a successful privateer. She was one of the very first American privateers to get to sea, and one of the first to send home a “prize” or captured vessel. She took 22 prizes that we know of, while avoiding capture herself for nearly two years.

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You'll See... Hospital Point!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:53:50 GMT

You'll See... Hospital Point!

Hospital Point in Beverly got its name from a smallpox hospital built on the site in 1801. Used as a military barracks during the War of 1812, the hospital burned down in 1849.

The lighthouse was first lit in 1872, around the same time that the Derby Wharf and Winter Island lights were built, in an effort to safely guide vessels into Salem and Beverly Harbors. In 1927, a rear range light was installed in the steeple of Beverly’s First Baptist Church, approximately one mile distant. It is still lit nightly. The two lights are vertically aligned for vessels coming from Baker’s Island toward Beverly.

Owned by the Coast Guard, Hospital Point Light is an active aid to navigation and is closed to the public. The cottage next to the light is used as the residence of the Commandant of the First Coast Guard District, who is a Rear Admiral.

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You’ll see… Winter Island!

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:51:58 GMT

You’ll see… Winter Island!

Salem’s Winter Island is a summer campground with both tent and RV campsites. Facilities include a public boat ramp, dinghy rack spaces, a store, a public beach called Waikiki, the Winter Island Lighthouse, and a function space.

The location of Salem’s first tavern and first shipyard, Winter Island was home to a fort as early as 1643 and the site was in more or less continuous use as a fort for the next 250 years. The fort had several different names when Massachusetts was a British colony, but it then was renamed Fort Pickering after Timothy Pickering, a prominent local patriot during the Revolution. Pickering was later Secretary of State and Secretary of War in George Washington’s cabinet.

During the 1930s, the Coast Guard created a Search and Rescue Base here. The base closed in 1968, and the City of Salem reclaimed the land in 1972 for public use.

The frigate USS Essex, which fought against the French, the Barbary Pirates, and finally the British during the War of 1812, was built on Winter Island in 1799.

The public beach is called “Waikiki” after the famous beach in Hawaii. Capt. Mike believes this nickname came from the flight crews that manned the Search and Rescue base, many of whom had served in the Pacific during World War II and would have passed through the big military base at nearby Pearl Harbor.

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