Support Park Programs & Preservation

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In 1996, the Congress designated Essex County as the Essex National Heritage Area, �for the purpose of preserving and interpreting for the educational and inspirational benefit of present and future generations, the unique and significant contributions to our national heritage of certain historic and cultural lands, natural waterways, and structures within the County of Essex in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.� The Congress noted that �the story told at the Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites would be greatly enhanced through the interpretation of theme�related resources in Salem and Saugus and throughout Essex County.� In 1997, the Essex National Heritage Commission, Inc. was designated as the official managing entity for the Essex National Heritage Area. The Essex National Heritage Commission is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 public benefit corporation that is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The National Park Service at the Salem Maritime and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Sites desires to continue to work closely and cooperatively with the Essex National Heritage Commission in the creation and implementation of education and interpretive programs and the protection and enhancement of historic resources related to three themes--early settlement, maritime and industrial--of the National Heritage Area and the park units, for the general benefit of the people and cultural and natural resources of the region as envisioned by Congress.

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