SALEM — The Salem Armory Regional Visitor Center has reopened for information and restrooms thanks to an effort by the city of Salem and local community organizations after the center closed Oct. 1 due to the government shutdown.
The National Park Service Visitor Center will be open seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The $18,600 in funding received from community organizations and businesses will keep the Visitor Center open until Nov. 2, or until the government shutdown ends, whichever comes first.
In preparation for the shutdown, Annie Harris of Essex Heritage contacted National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent Jennifer Hardin of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site who explained that NPS headquarters in Washington may allow the center to reopen under the auspices of Essex Heritage and Eastern National. It was possible provided that all costs, including bathroom cleaning, utilities, and a 10.5% overhead fee, were paid in full upfront, officials said.
The final amount for the month of October was estimated to be $18,600.
Essex Heritage and Eastern National are nonprofit organizations that hold cooperative agreements and security clearances with NPS that allowed them to reopen and manage the Visitor Center.
After receiving permission from Mayor Dominick Pangallo, Harris contacted community partners, organizations, and businesses including Destination Salem, Creative Collective, The Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Wax Museum, Eastern National, Destination Salem, and the Salem Witch Museum. The Salem Witch Museum was the first to respond with a $8,000 donation.
The mayor’s chief of staff, Lisa Peterson, effectively managed the fundraising effort, according to Destination Salem.
Staffing for the Visitor Center itself is being provided at no cost by Essex Heritage five days a week and by Eastern National seven days a week. Essex Heritage is also contributing three local youth ages 16 to 25 who are employed part-time by the organization’s Future Leaders program, to assist with visitor information.
Several longtime NPS volunteers from the Salem community are also lending their support, Destination Salem officials said.
“Ensuring consistent access to restrooms and visitor information is essential to maintaining a positive experience for guests and supporting Salem’s local businesses,” Executive Director Ashley Judge said.
“Visitors rely on these basic services to feel welcome, comfortable, and oriented— especially during the busy October season,” she said. “Gaps in access can lead to frustration, crowding, and negative impressions that affect the city’s overall reputation as a well-managed, visitor-friendly destination.”
Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202