Friendship of Salem
Essex Heritage works with the National Park Service to introduce the tall ship Friendship of Salem to new audiences along the coast of New England. Part regional ambassador, part living history classroom, the Friendship is a replica of a 171-foot, three-masted Salem East Indiaman built in 1797.
Friendship Facts!
• Overall length: 171’
• Masts: Three
• Height of main mast: 120’ to keel, 106’ above deck line
• Longest spar: Main yard, 52’8”
• Miles of rigging: 17 miles
• Number of sails: 21
• Area of sails: 9,409 sq. ft. (.216 acres)
• Ballast: 150 tons of lead
Friendship of Salem: A Partnership Ship
Friendship is a replica of a three-masted, square rigged “East Indiaman”, the type of merchant ship that made Salem a leader in opening international trade with the Far East, Europe and Russia in the years immediately after the American Revolution.
The new Friendship was built through a unique collaboration between volunteers, the greater Salem community, and the National Park Service. More than 25% of the cost of her construction was paid for by private donations from individuals and organizations around the Essex National Heritage Area. During her construction, volunteers worked alongside NPS staff, spending hundreds of hours fashioning her rigging, building the captain’s gig and to fitting out her interior. Today, Friendship’s ambassadorial voyages to ports in New England and most recently New York City are only possible because of the numerous volunteers who assist NPS staff to sail and care for the ship and because of the funds that are raised through the auspices of the Essex National Heritage Commission.
For more information about the history of Friendship, visit the Salem Maritime National Historic Site at www.nps.gov/sama.
Where is Friendship?
The tall ship Friendship is usually docked on historic Derby Wharf at Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Click here to find out if Friendship will be in port during your visit, and to see what accessibility options are available at Salem Maritime.
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The Essex National Heritage Commission and National Park Service Strategic Relationship provides a dynamic platform that successfully extends the NPS mission beyond traditional park unit boundaries. Working together we are currently engaging, promoting, educating and inspiring new audiences throughout this region.