Salem Armory
4.6 (16)attraction
4.6 (16)This 1880s military drill shed survived a devastating fire to become Salem's national park visitor center.
Description
Long before its 1994 reopening, the complex functioned as the headquarters and training facility for the Second Corps of Cadets, a unit tracing back to the late eighteenth century. A 1982 fire claimed most of the original Gothic Revival structure, leaving only the drill shed standing. Today, the open parcel stretching toward Essex Street serves as Armory Park to honor Essex County veterans, while the interior functions as the regional welcome post for Salem Maritime National Historical Park.