Friends of Friendship - Salem

07/12/2025

The FRIENDSHIP returns to on July 15th around 2pm!

After many months of critical repairs, we’re all excited to welcome this signature tall ship back to Derby Wharf.

She’ll remain covered as final work is completed and as, later this summer and through Spring 2026, rigging installation takes place, so she can be “ship shape” for Salem 400+ next year!

https://www.nps.gov/sama/index.htm

11/15/2024

The move of "Friendship of Salem" to Gloucester originally scheduled for November 13 is now planned for Saturday, November 16 at approximately 10:30 AM. National Park Service staff are tracking wind and sea conditions, and a final decision on the move will be made on the morning of November 16. For additional updates, please visit the Salem Maritime National Historic Site page (www.facebook.com/SalemMaritime) or Instagram page (www.instagram.com/salemmaritimenps/) on November 16.

NPS Photo

11/12/2024

The move of "Friendship of Salem" to the Gloucester Marine Railway originally scheduled for November 13 has been postponed due to weather. Park staff are tracking wind and sea conditions, and a new date will be announced soon.

NPS Photo

11/05/2022

In early November 1801, the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM left port on its seventh international voyage. Captain William Story took the FRIENDSHIP to Leghorn, a port city on the west coast of Italy. While it is unknown what cargo was onboard when the ship arrived back in Salem in April 1802, the voyage must have been a success since the FRIENDSHIP returned to Leghorn in 1805 and 1807.

NPS Photo

10/25/2022

Salem Maritime National Historic Site announces that a contract has been awarded for approximately $1.3 million to repair FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM. The work will be performed at the ship's home berth on Derby Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts and was funded through the National Park Service’s Recreation Fee Program.

This contract includes replacing the deck and significant portions of the transom, bulwarks and associated framing. While initially planned for 2020, delays in contracting occurred due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, the project is anticipated to begin this fall, with work to be completed in the winter of 2023.

Captain Tanya Banks-Christensen, who was recently hired as ship supervisor and captain, said, "We're very excited to get started on this long-awaited and much-needed repair project, the first and most integral step to getting FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM rigged, sailing and serving the public to the vessel's utmost capacity." FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM will continue to be open for limited visitation through October. Any additional open hours will be determined at a later date and announced on the park's website and social media.

The replica tall ship FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM was designed with the appearance of an original 1797 Salem-built vessel. The keel was laid in Scarano Shipyard in Albany, New York in 1996 and uses modern technology and materials to meet today’s safety and accessibility requirements. FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM represents New England’s influential role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade and in the economic and political development of the United States.

In 2021, 181 thousand park visitors spent an estimated $11.8 million in local gateway regions while visiting Salem Maritime National Historic Site. These expenditures supported a total of 147 jobs, $7.2 million in labor income, $11.2 million in value added, and $18.0 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Salem Maritime National Historic Site.

09/10/2022

Join us tomorrow, Sunday, September 11, for the 21st consecutive year of ringing of the bell in honor of the lives lost on that tragic day 21 years ago. The crew of FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM will ring the bell at 0905.

NPS Photo / Earl Perez-Foust

09/08/2022

09/07/2022

Join the staff and volunteers of Salem Maritime National Historic Site on Thursday, September 8th at 9:30 am on Derby Wharf to see the combined crew conduct a turn-around of FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM. This effort will be led by Captain Tanya Banks-Christensen who joined the National Park Service this summer as the Ship Operations Supervisor at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Captain Banks-Christensen has over 20 years of experience in sail training, experiential education and marine operations. We are excited to have such an enthusiastic and talented person filling this critical position.

FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM will be getting underway from the ship's berth on Derby Wharf with the assistance of two towing vessels provided by a local marine services company. The operation is anticipated to take approximately one hour. At its conclusion, the ship will again be secured to Derby Wharf, but with the vessel’s port side facing the wharf and the bow pointed to the south. This is an operation that is typically performed on an annual basis, and which allows a ship to weather evenly when sitting dockside. Work to prepare and secure the ship will be ongoing throughout the day.

Visitors will have the best view of the turn-around from Central Wharf. Park staff will be on hand to answer questions and ensure that a security zone is maintained, so that visitors are kept safe and the ship lines are handled properly.

NPS Photo

09/05/2022

On September 5, 1812, the East Indiaman merchant ship FRIENDSHIP was returning from Archangel, Russia, when the ship was captured by the British sloop of war HMS Rosamond. The War of 1812 between the British and the United States began while FRIENDSHIP was in Archangel, Russia. The war had started in June, but the captain and crew were unaware of that fact and set off for Salem, only to be captured in the Atlantic Ocean and taken as a prize of war. The captain and crew were able to return to Salem, but FRIENDSHIP was sold at auction in London, England on March 17, 1813.

Today, the replica tall ship FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, is docked at Derby Wharf and was designed to present the appearance an original 1797 Salem-built vessel. The keel was laid in Scarano Shipyard in Albany, New York in 1996 and uses modern technology and materials to meet today’s safety and accessibility requirements.

FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM represents New England’s influential role in the development of global and domestic maritime trade and in the economic and political development of the United States.

NPS Photo

09/21/2021

Today, we will be turning the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM! Turning of the vessel is done on a yearly basis to equalize weather exposure to all parts of the ship.

The process will start approximately 11:15–11:30am with the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM moving away from the dock, turning near the end of Central Wharf, and landing again around 12:15–12:30pm. National Park Service staff and volunteers will be working on and around the vessel with the aid of push boats in the water operated by Sheehan Marine Services, Inc.

Preparations for the turn, and securing of the vessel afterwards, will be ongoing throughout the day. Visitors will have the best view of the operation from Central Wharf.

NPS Photo / Elizabeth Thakkar

11/04/2020

The Mizzenmast was raised today. Now there are two. (KH)
https://www.nps.gov/sama/learn/historyculture/friendshipofsalem.htm

09/16/2020

Beautiful day for Friendship to turnaround to get ready for the re-installation of the masts.